How To Create A Hybrid Office
With Covid-19 restrictions easing, companies are best trying to work out how to integrate employees back into the office. We have provided a Return to work after Covid-19 guide to give you some ideas and suggestions as we are keenly aware that employees have been accustomed to working remotely throughout the pandemic. This, combined with social distancing measures may mean that your employees are apprehensive about returning to a five day in-office working week.
Fortunately, hybrid office design is a growing trend that offers companies a workspace that looks to address these employee apprehensions, and could reduce operating expenditure in the long run. Read on to learn more about hybrid office design and how Jade Aden Interiors can design the ideal hybrid office workspace for you.
Jade Aden Interiors Are Experts In Hybrid Office Design
For more information on how we can design the hybrid office space for you, or if you would like to know more about our commercial workplace products and services, then please feel free to contact us via our website, email or by phone on 01425 689199.
What Is A Hybrid Office?
A hybrid office combines remote working with in-office working arrangements. Such an office design promotes flexibility and convenience in terms of where employees work, as well as potentially reducing overhead expenses for the company.
What Are The Benefits Of Hybrid Offices?
Work-life balance improvement
Whilst more time can be dedicated to tasks (due to lack of commuting), a big concern for full-time remote workers is overworking, as the line between work and personal life can become unclear. This can lead to wellbeing and even mental health problems if employees are not resting up properly.
Spending time in the hybrid office can help sustain the divide between an employee’s work and personal life, and can also nurture employee engagement and company culture.
Increased employee productivity
By offering employees a flexible work setup, they are more likely to increase their productivity levels. Giving employees the opportunity to work from home if they need to concentrate or come into the office if they would prefer to have a face-to-face meeting – for example – gives employees the freedom to manage their environment in line with their own needs.
Reduction in Operation Costs
By adopting a hybrid office, lesser operation costs can be realised in the form of reduced rent and electricity fees (especially if you’re considering downsizing), as well as cutting employee transportation and food expenses. Research carried out by Microsoft found that employees used their time better as a result of working in a hybrid model.
What Are The Office Features Required For Hybrid Working?
A hybrid workspace needs features that provide ease-of-access, good connectivity and the opportunity to communicate with other staff, regardless of their location. With this in mind, key features of a hybrid office space include:
- An increase in social collaboration spaces (versus desks)
- Universal docking stations
- A strong Wi-Fi connection for communicating with remote workers
- Online unified communications and collaboration workflow tools
- Technology to book meeting rooms and private spaces
- Video-conferencing rooms
- Configurable office furniture that is easy to move around
- Sound scaping and noise-cancellation
Hybrid Office Design Tips For Zoom Calls
There are several ways you can take a Zoom call in the hybrid office. We would suggest booking a meeting or video-conferencing room to conduct your call. With the right hybrid workspace design, however, calls can be taken in social collaboration spaces providing the volume settings are not too loud to disturb your other in-office colleagues. Alternatively, you can opt to use a headset and take the call from a desk.