Office spaces are going through a major shift which is not only changing the way offices look but also the way we work in our workspaces. The global COVID-19 epidemic is a remarkable period in history that we are currently experiencing.
A time when, apparently overnight, the fundamental ways in which we communicate—both personally and professionally—have changed all the time and have left a permanent imprint on each of us on a global scale. Many people were able to quickly adapt their working methods and move forward in their various new “work” settings thanks to a wide range of tools and technologies.
Harsh Binani is the co-founder of Smartworks, India’s largest Managed Workspace Platform. He believes that now more than ever, workspaces are transforming and employees need something more than just a monotonous schedule that is attached only to their work.
Personal and professional growth is a major part of the bigger picture in the new normal. In his opinion, certain factors are coming into play that is creating a bigger impact on the industry than others.
Technology
Due to powerful technologies, leaders now have a greater awareness of the dynamics at work and the culture of their organisation. This, in our opinion, is a newly developing area of “culture technology,” a multidisciplinary, scientifically based strategy to enhance workplace culture.
It aims to support everyone's collaboration to create a deliberate and purposeful culture, from top leaders to new hires. Technology is becoming the very core of everything that we are to do in the new normal. It is having a larger impact on the way employees collaborate and communicate in the post-COVID scenario.
Aligning and connecting are the key components of creating effective channels of communication in the workplace. Technology, in Harsh Binani's opinion, will play a significant role in connecting people when used properly. Workers are returning from the longest cycle of working from home, increasing their reliance on technology.
Owing to these changes, employees are also looking for a safer and more seamless office experience. Harsh Binani shares that Smartworks has always been a tech-first organization, which has enabled it to create workspaces that have technology at its heart. We have moved into an era where technology is not just an option but a must in workspaces.
Design
Harsh Binani believes that more than merely a reflection of the times, evolving office design is also a reflection of how people are working today. Employees are starting to demand new things from their company as workplace culture shifts toward one that promotes work-life balance and technology enables the infrastructure for remote work. Specifically, a setting that attends to employees' needs. Not only are new hires and income affected by an office's layout, but it also affects existing personnel.
Read more: Flexible Office Spaces Must Enable Multi-Dimensional Office Experience: Harsh Binani, Smartworks
A positive work atmosphere is created when employees feel inspired, motivated, and stress-free. The ideal office for completing any to-do list includes features like natural light, greater air ventilation, ergonomic equipment, and collaborative workspaces.
Happy employees are in good health. Any business should put its employees' needs first, and having a well-planned workplace can help you do that. A happy, healthy, and productive office requires ergonomic equipment, quiet workspaces, and communal areas. These features are not simply pleasant to have; they are necessary.
Human-centred design has a great deal of potential to enhance and have a positive effect on employee wellbeing. You may easily implement small improvements to enhance the physical atmosphere at your company by merely providing locations for employees to recharge and considering their comfort.
Due to changing workplace relationships, it's more important than ever to create an environment that inspires you to come to work every day and liberates you from the structural insanity of a small cubicle. Workplaces are shifting their emphasis away from establishing a mechanical job to creating an environment that can motivate a person to want to work. Creative thinking and teamwork are stimulated by interactive designs and the freedom to work independently.
Harsh Binani shares that workplace design has a huge role to play in the way employees feel about their offices. Office designs are increasingly incorporating biophilic elements, which will increase worker creativity and pleasure. Office environments have changed to become places where employees have a great deal of flexibility, can mingle in a fun, colorful break rooms, and where there is always coffee available.
Amenities
Harsh Binani believes that culture is one of the most important amenities today. Regardless of the industry that you are in, the amenities that you are providing to your employees help them be more creative and collaborative. A redundant work routine often works as a turn-off for most employees, making them feel trapped and bored, which in turn blocks creativity and new ideas
Giving employees a space to unwind, mingle, and/or burn off some extra energy is a terrific approach to encourage friendship-building, get to know one another, and provide them with a place they want to be. Although it may not seem significant, providing your employees with a space where they can engage in enjoyable, healthy activities and build team spirit is essential for their enjoyment, contentment, productivity, and retention.
Harsh Binani strongly believes that to create a strong work culture, it is important to create a positive work environment along with the extra perks that you can provide. Harsh Binani, after creating workspaces for every kind of organization, shares that employees are the backbone of any organisation and they should always feel valued. We have stepped into an era when it is more important that employees feel appreciated now more than ever.
Technology, design, amenities, and other things will help you not only have a happy workforce but also retain your workforce. Now as the new generation is entering the workforce, it makes it even more important for organizations to create a workspace that can offer more than just a place to learn. The new workforce is coming with the need for a workspace that also gives them the space to learn, grow, and be creative.
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