Flexible work miodels are here to stay. Although some companies have started return to work mandates, 76% of the Fortune 100 companies still operate on a hybrid work schedule. And it’s what employees want. In fact, if the ability to work from home was taken away, 66% of employees would start job hunting immediately and nearly 40% would quit. If you haven’t embraced hybrid work yet, the time is now. To make it work, you need the right hybrid office layout.
Design for Collaboration
For working policies, companies now have remote first, office first, or hybrid. When designing a hybrid office layout, your focus should be on collaboration first. According to a recent study by Microsoft, connecting with their coworkers is the number one reason people come back to the office. In fact, a large majority of employees said they are more motivated to go to the office when they can interact with their colleagues, “work friends”, or direct team members. Since collaboration is a priority for most of your team when they are in the office, it should be your top design priority.
If you are considering a redesign for your hybrid team, start by looking at how your employees are currently collaborating.
If you are considering a redesign for your hybrid team, start by looking at how your employees are currently collaborating. Do several team members often huddle around a workstation for a Zoom meeting? Be sure to include multiple small video-enabled meeting spaces throughout your layout. If you see larger groups pulling their office chairs together with notebooks on their laps to brainstorm, include collaborative meeting spaces with whiteboards, laptop tables, and flexible furniture. If often two team members are paired up, include acoustic meeting pods to give them space to focus.
Collaboration looks different in every industry and even for each company within that industry. There can’t be a certain layout that works for each one. Collaboration space can be as unique as you are.
Create a Flexible Hybrid Office Layout
Creating a hybrid office layout is crucial for businesses to respond quickly to the changing workplace. Enable better productivity, functionality, and comfort. Regardless, flexibility is needed as many employees change in the office from day to day, and even from hour to hour.
In the past, collaboration was done in meeting areas. With stations like cubicles out in the open areas. With the rise of hybrid work, common spaces are taking over the open office space. Create these spaces to meet the many needs of a changing workforce.
In our hybrid world, meetings are often conducted between one or two office workers, with many others zooming in.
In the hybrid world, meetings are often conducted between one or two office workers, with several others zooming in. Collaboration in that instance looks like a private space for a video call. In other cases, many workers may need to gather around a whiteboard to brainstorm. Or a large group might be gathering for company-wide training. Moveable partitions create whatever size space you need. Designed to be mobile, these partitions, which often double as whiteboards or planters, can be configured and reconfigured quickly and easily throughout the day.
Incorporate the Best of Work From Home
Employees like working from home. But some of the top reasons include improved work life balance. This means healthy living, flexible work, short commutes, few interruptions, comfort, and control over their space. You can’t use all of these perks in your office. But you can bring the best of working from home to the office.
Allow workers flexible start and end times. This can help with work life balance, health, and long commute times. Some workers like to come in later to see their kids off to school. Or fit in a morning workout. However, others might want to start earlier and get out of work earlier to catch a friend for happy hour or miss the peek commute times. Whatever the reason, flexible scheduling gives your employees better balance and control over their days.
Create a space that is designed to bring people together.
Many other perks can be used in design. Prioritizing comfort could look like more lounge furniture in break rooms, collaboration areas, or different workspaces. But it could also mean adding ergonomic features in workstations. Or even relaxing the dress code!
Limiting interruptions is often hard at the office. However, using acoustic elements in your hybrid office layout is a step in the right direction. The majority of these pieces are designed to reduce the overall volume of the office. However, some pieces like the acoustic privacy pod, are built to be a complete break from the noise.
Provide the Right Technology
While collaboration spaces are crucial to a successful hybrid office, nothing may make or break a hybrid team like a lack of technology. For remote team members, technology is how they maintain connections. And without it, they often experience proximity bias and disengagement, and they feel removed from company culture and community.
When designing a hybrid office layout, your focus should be on collaboration first.
Using technology doesn’t just look like adding screens to collaboration areas. Although this piece is crucial. It means adding ports and outlets to commonly used meeting areas. Hybrid workers also bring their laptops with them. And it means having software and systems in place that make the virtual office easier.
Systems and software can also make in-person interactions happen more easily. There is software that can help make sure the right people are in the office, or that employees can be sure to be there when their work friends are. Or ease the burden of desk-sharing with booking software. No matter what your office needs are, the right technology is a crucial piece of any hybrid office layout.
Furniture Staples for your Hybrid Office Layout
A designed hybrid office space has many different zones throughout the office. Although, many workers come to the office to connect, private areas for focus are still needed. All zones should be flexible. They should focus on function and production.
Modular workstations work well in this type of office. They come in many different styles. Also, these stations can be customized. And fit within any size office space. This lets you to build individual workstations that can be used by one member or shared through hot desking or desk hoteling. Also, acoustic furniture is great for other areas where focus work is needed.
Think about adding common spaces to your layout as well. While like collaboration spaces, these spaces are more for social connection. Being together and connecting is the number one reason workers come to the office. Create a space that is designed to bring people together.
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Want to learn more about a hybrid office design? Check out our comprehensive guide!
