Designing a Hybrid Office Layout That Employees Will Love
The world is slowly shedding its pandemic mind frame, and many individuals are happily resuming pre-Covid activities. For others, however, delving back into the real world warrants hesitation, especially wary employees who dread the close quarters of an office setting and the potential loss of independence, comfort and convenience. Modern technology made it possible for most of us to be just as productive from home as we were from a corporate location. Why bother, then, going back to the office? The answer: camaraderie, collaboration and inspiration; a physical space to gather for work and to socialize provides natural opportunities for a company’s distinct culture to emerge, the benefits of which have been shown to influence everything from employee and customer satisfaction to the actual bottom line. Here’s what you need to know to create a hybrid office layout that lures even the most reluctant employees back to the workplace:
What is a Hybrid Office Layout?
A hybrid office allows employees to merge the convenience of working from home with the advantages of periodic personal interaction. Employers use it to leverage the cost of providing a corporate roof overhead while still paying heed to workers’ desire for autonomy and freedom. In many instances, a hybrid office layout provides a mix of large, common areas in which employees can gather and smaller, more private areas (rooms, desks, cubicles, etc.) in which they can temporarily work. In this way, the office becomes a hub, providing refuge for employees who want to come and go, rather than sit and stay for hours on end. Gone are dedicated desks for each employee. Instead, spaces are flexible, with focus turned towards technologies that make it easy for workers to drop in and connect with others, both in person, as well as remotely.
Specific Design Elements of a Hybrid Office Layout
In a hybrid work environment, schedules are usually random; employees will work different hours and come into the office on different days. The trick is making it so that people want to visit the office even if they don’t have to. Some common enticements that go along with a hybrid office layout include:
- Hot desking options that enable workers to come but don’t demand that they stay for any specific amount of time.
- Pods that allow groups to gather together and collaborate.
- Communal spaces that invite social interaction and relaxation.
- Flexible, comfortable furniture that accommodates varying needs.
- Open waiting rooms, washrooms and breakrooms that provide space for social distancing and are easy to clean.
- Well-appointed kitchens and fitness amenities that serve as a draw and boost employee wellness and satisfaction.
- “Smart” technologies that are often touchless and make it easy to connect with colleagues no matter their location, timezone or level of expertise.
The Key Interiors Advantage
A hybrid office layout has quickly become the de-facto trend for the post-Covid workplace. To learn more about using design elements to create an appealing and functional space for employees to work and socialize, please contact our design experts here at Key Interiors. We know how to facilitate a hybrid office layout that combines functionality and aesthetics so that employees are pulled away from their homes and back into the office!
