Choosing how to design a workspace to suit your business can be a difficult task. Every business has different demands that need to be met, but a consistently popular trend across the board seems to be flexible workspaces. In the last few months as a result of Covid-19, the tradition of being permanently based in the office has been completely flipped upside down, leading to companies being drawn to the benefits of flexible working. Let’s have a look at exactly what flexible work spaces are, what the benefits are and how flexible work spaces will fit into our lives post Covid-19.
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What Are Flexible Work Spaces?
A flexible work space is an office space designed to accommodate a range of different working styles, offering an element of dynamicity to work spaces. These spaces are also sometimes referred to as hot-desking or mobile working, as rather than employees having a designated space to work each day, flexible spaces allow staff to go into the office as much or as little as desired and use communal desk areas and meeting rooms. It is common for multiple companies to share these spaces. Office workers are human beings who thrive off interaction, an element of working life that isn’t fulfilled by working from home. Equally, working in dull office spaces can produce a very rigid and uninspiring working environment, leading employees to question whether the commute is worth it. This is where exciting and vibrant flexible work spaces come into play.
Benefits Of Flexible Work Spaces
Firstly, flexible work spaces promote productivity from both workers and the company owners. Workers have the chance to find a working routine that brings out the best in them, meaning company owners can benefit from the added productivity of staff in response to a more balanced working life. Staff get the interaction that was craved throughout lockdown whilst also benefiting from working from home when needed. Another benefit for the owners would be that they won’t need to commit to traditional leases, as many flexible work spaces offer monthly rolling contracts. On top of that, flexible work spaces are often much more vibrant than traditional offices. Providers of flexible spaces understand that companies are slowly moving towards offering a strong work-life balance and this is clearly incorporated into the workspaces. There are plenty of spaces to meet clients, work on presentations or have quick meetings, as well as relax during breaks. Working from home or being in an average office simply can’t compete with the benefits of flexible working, hence the trend seems to be the future of working life.
How Will Flexible Work Spaces Fit Into The Future?
Currently, having different people coming in and out of an office space all the time and having multiple companies mixing is not necessarily very Covid-friendly. This discussion isn’t suggesting that flexible work spaces will be a short term solution to help the commercial property market prosper, but for investors with an interest in commercial property management who are looking for a long-term investment that is likely to sustain itself for decades to come, flexible work spaces might be the answer. People have adjusted to the benefits of working from home and are likely to want to continue this in some form. A study by Cardiff and Southampton Universities suggests 9 in 10 office workers would like to continue working from home in some way moving forwards. The massive upturn people experienced is likely to continue to have an impact, yet having the opportunity to go into the office is also something people are likely to want. This is where flexible work spaces come in, as people are wanting to access variety and socialisation with their colleagues as well as benefiting from working from home. Workers can come in for important meetings or to get a much needed home-work separation from time to time. Flexible work spaces give workers freedom to find a routine that works for them, rather than them having to commit to 100% office based work, which in turn is likely to create a happier and more motivated workforce for the employer.
Summary
Working from home during Covid-19 has been tough for many people, so looking towards a positive and innovative future is a great thing. The possibilities of flexible work spaces seem to outweigh being office based, whilst also offering the interaction and excitement of a vibrant working space that working from home fails to offer. Companies are beginning to come out the other side and are looking to innovate and maintain a highly productive workforce, and by the looks of it, flexible work spaces will be the perfect solution to do this.