Workspace concepts that are becoming trendsetters in 2022

The definition of work-life balance has been reevaluated in the last two years. Stemming from deep-rooted concern for well-being in a post-pandemic world, people are now inclined towards flexibility and mobility instead of a highly standardised work schedule. Consequently, the leaders are now struggling to boost productivity through effective shifts in workspaces to produce long-term benefits across the organisation.
Simply put, an ideal workspace hinges on the adaptability, health and happiness of a workforce; flexibility is the key component of business progress.

Read on, to know how these trends are rolling out as successful business practices.

1. The impact of lifestyle and geographic mobility is observed to have a strong impact on work culture. According to T.N Hari, HR Head, Bigbasket- the working population in fast-moving cities is saving 25% of their work day by avoiding commuting and devoting the same to quality time spent with their families and personal interests. It has led to the overall quality of life and happiness. A contemporary work standard — cost-per-desk, has seen a spike in demand in megapolis that have become the new normal in the workspace domain.


2. Considering the ever-increasing headcount in the last 2 years and the emergence of thousands of new businesses, organisations are now turning to employee-driven workspaces. Uncontrolled factors such as space constraints have turned employees into decision-making authorities allowing them to pick suitable working models. Organisations are now in a state to smartly manage double the workforce count with the same space as before, thanks to the inclination towards fully-remote or hybrid working models.


3. Suburban migration has led to turning specific cities such as the metropolitans into epicentres of a post-pandemic world from a work perspective. According to the World Economic Forum, “Around 25-30 people migrate to cities from rural areas every minute.” With a better understanding of employee behaviour, these cities can be the ideal spot for a hub-and-spoke approach. They would be centralised spots for all major social and professional engagement to set a geographic foundation for a highly engaged workforce.


4. There is an immediate need for Human Resources, IT, and real estate features to join hands for a pioneering effect. The office spaces are now expected to be designed with technological advancements like -
   • IoT and Automation
   • Artificial Intelligence
   • Ease of Mobility
   • Health-centered Solutions
   • Virtual and Augmented Reality
   
   It is all about connecting physical spaces through effective Human Resources strategies and commercial real estate planning with these technological advancements. Successful implementation of this trio can be a boon for any organisation across the globe.


5. Employees today need everything under one roof in a well-organised workspace propelling demands for high-end commercial workspaces. It is fundamental to restructure the “office-must-haves” from an interior perspective through a futuristic design-proofing approach. Beyond a cafeteria and a snack counter, the idea is to turn “on-site” into “off-site” in the new-normal world to create a space for inclusivity and togetherness. Therefore, the new on-site will be a source of innovative learning, stimulating engagement and ensuring a vibrant employee experience.

Conclusion:
Bringing in the human-physical-digital trifecta to produce a new dimension to corporate real estate’s style of functioning. Employee-centric workspace design will be driven by the collective demands of workers. “Agile workspaces” strategies have surged over 200% since the global pandemic smashed the traditional workspace operations. These trends are sure to produce all-encompassing benefits as they are distinctive in the present day. Lakshmi C., the managing Director–Human Resources Lead, Accenture(India) highlights to Business Today, “What has probably changed is the increased level of flexibility where it’s going to be very custom-built and personalised to the nature of the work, the nature of our client's requirements and our people’s needs.”

References:

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2021/07/30/five-workspace-trends-that-will-impact-our-return-to-the-office/?sh=1084b6e4f595
2. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/390632/future-hybrid-work-key-questions-answered-data.aspx
3. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/401387
4. https://www.weforum.org/whitepapers/indian-cities-in-the-post-pandemic-world/