As technology has developed, offices have been forced to evolve to keep up with the changing needs of today’s workforce.
Employees are demanding more from their office experience, and employers are looking for ways to compete in the global marketplace.
This article will discuss some of the latest trends in workplace design and how they can help you transform your traditional office space into a hybrid workspace that meets everyone’s needs.
What is a Hybrid Office?
A hybrid office is an office space that can be used for both meetings and collaboration and individual tasks such as reading, emailing, or designing.
A hybrid office is designed to give employees the freedom to work in different ways, depending on what they are working on.
7 Tips On A Hybrid Workspace
Here are some tips to help you achieve a successful hybrid working space:
1# Nature your teams by investing in activities and experiences that bring your team together.
2# Promote equal access for both on-site and remote employees. Let remote employees also feel visible and catered to.
3# Build a robust communication framework by encouraging your employees to share ideas and concerns.
4# Create a space that promotes creativity and community engagement.
5# Ensure you have the right technology to support your team- whether they’re in or out of the office.
6# Provide ongoing technical training to support your team’s productivity.
7# Offer flexible scheduling so everyone can work on-site or remotely as needed.
Turning The Everyday Office Into A Hybrid Office
A hybrid office meets the needs of employees who want to work in a traditional office setting and those who want to work from home. You can do many things to turn your everyday office into a hybrid office. Here are a few tips:
1. Embrace hot-desking
If you want to encourage employees to work from home, you may want to consider implementing a hot-desking policy.
With hot-desking, employees are not assigned a permanent desk and can choose any open desk they want each day. This gives them the flexibility to work from home when necessary and promotes collaboration among coworkers.
2. Encourage working from anywhere
With the aid of technology, employees can work from anywhere. You can encourage your workforce to take advantage of this flexibility by implementing flexible schedules and policies.
If you want your employees to embrace working remotely or being more productive in general, try allowing them to have some time where they are not subject to interruption during the day so they can focus on their work.
3. Design with mental health in mind
Using colors and materials that are calming can help to promote mental well-being. You could even incorporate a break room where employees can unwind with some stress-relieving activities like meditation or yoga if your company culture allows for it.
4. Embrace online collaboration tools
With the rise of technology and tools like Slack, Trello, and Google Drive, more companies are transitioning from on-site data storage to cloud-based processing and storage.
It’s now easier than ever for employees to collaborate even when they’re not in the same office. Integrating these types of tools into your design will allow your employees to transition seamlessly between on-site and remote work.
3 Perks of A Hybrid Workspace
1. Increases productivity
Hybrid offices have been shown to increase productivity. This is because employees can work in the environment that best suits their needs at any given time.
If they need privacy, they can work in a closed office space. They can head to the open space or collaboration hub if they need collaboration.
2. Boosts employee satisfaction
Employees are happier when they get to choose where and how they work. A hybrid office will give your employees the freedom to do just that without sacrificing their company culture or sense of community.
Employees feel more engaged at work when you allow them to create a space that reflects who they are as individuals while still supporting team collaboration.
3. Enhances collaborations and work relationships
Collaborations happen more naturally in a hybrid office because employees work in an environment that encourages it. This can lead to better work relationships and improved communication.
When employees feel like they’re part of a team and have good communication with their coworkers, they are more likely to be productive and satisfied with their job.
3 Types of Hybrid Workspaces
There are a few different types of hybrid workspaces that you can choose from.
1. Dedicated workspaces around the world
This type of hybrid workspace can be helpful for companies that have remote workers. They can use the satellite office as a place where they can come together for team meetings or training sessions.
2. Modern office space on demand
The office space on demand is an excellent idea when you have in-office and remote employees. With this setup, remote workers can access shared office space when they need to, including amenities such as meeting rooms and printers. They can even pay for this access.
3. Open office space to promote face to face interactions
Open office space is great for encouraging collaboration and communication among coworkers. This type of layout typically includes large, communal spaces as well as smaller, more private offices. It’s perfect for companies that want to encourage teamwork and creativity.
3 Examples of hybrid workspaces
1. Service Express corporate office, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Service Express has a hybrid office that was recently remodeled to encourage collaboration. The open workspace is complemented by closed offices and meeting rooms for when team members need some privacy or one-on-one time with clients. There’s also an innovation lab where employees can brainstorm ideas.
2. Checkr, San Francisco, California
Checkr’s hybrid office is designed to reflect the company’s young and innovative culture. It has an open space for collaboration and closed spaces for more focused work. It has break areas on every floor, and it also features a library, yoga lounge, jazz bar, and multi-purpose cafeteria.
3. The Coven, St. Paul, Minnesota
The Coven is a co-working space designed to support women entrepreneurs. It has an open office area with high communal tables for collaboration, private phone booths, and closed offices. It also has quiet rooms for focus work, conference rooms, and lounge areas with kitchenettes set up like living rooms meant to encourage community building among members of The Coven.
A hybrid working space is a great idea in this time and age. It is beneficial to both employers and employees in many ways. If you are thinking of converting your regular office space to a hybrid office space, ensure you customize it to what would work for your team and your business.
Read Also:
- How AI Plays a Crucial Role in Business & Workspaces
- 3 Productive Workspace Hacks For Freelancers & Independent Workers
- 10 Best Office Decor Ideas For Productive Workplace
Author Bio: My name is Taylor McKnight and I am a Digital PR Specialist representing Proxyclick. Proxyclick is a company that offers technological solutions to numerous industries, including the culinary, medical, and educational fields.
