FLEXIBLE WORKING

In March 2020 – prior to lockdown – CBRE released a report looking at how we will experience commercial real estate by 2030. 

The report was prescient, with many of the themes explored – including remote and flexible working - coming under the spotlight in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The research predicted that “nearly all employees will be mobile and require a network of locations to make them as productive and engaged as possible.” A recent study by Gartner also found that 75% of CFOs are considering an increase in remote working in the future. 

Almost instantly following the publication of the report, the country was issued with mandated government protocols requiring companies to close offices and enforce remote working to comply with guidance on social distancing. 

There’s no doubt that the current crisis will re-shape our work practices, interaction preferences and attitudes towards technology for decades to come. 

The need for some teams to spend time together will always be a crucial component of work. Others will find their dependency on the office is reduced, while some employees will want to continue working from home on a more regular basis. This will cause us to be more deliberate about why and when we go to the office. 

Regardless, companies will still need to make their offices a preferred destination and emphasis on employee experience will be amplified. The new patterns around office occupation will cause organisations to re-think their space needs and consider alternative work styles, leveraging effective online collaboration practices.

Businesses will need to approach remote working sensitively. The current reality of remote working for many employees is far from ideal, with many people juggling family and work commitments under one roof and IT issues proving a challenge, for example.  The focus will be on setting up the right technology, culture, and expectations, to make the office- to-home experience seamless and ensuring employees can maintain productivity and engagement no matter where they are. Programmes of support addressing personal health and wellbeing will also be needed. 

Businesses should not see workplaces in a binary capacity—home or office – there are a much wider range of possibilities and combinations. The physical office will remain important as a space for collaboration and the focus will be on creating a space which provides employees with a greater feeling of welcome and belonging, and an opportunity to engage with the culture of the organisation.

CBRE has published a guide, “Reopening the Worlds’ Workspaces’, for landlords and occupiers of commercial space. Click here to download a copy