There are several articles and blogs written on how the COVID 19 pandemic is going to affect workplace design and also effective ways of getting back at work. Both employees and employers are facing complex challenges that definitely require shift in management, processes and culture that exist in our current workforce. In many ways, business structures will need to be redefined in ways that challenge the way we all functioned.
Also, if we do not take time to examine our present, then we run the risk of not recognizing that the future is happening as we speak. It is, therefore, important to examine the impacts to the future workplace with more nuances — through the lens of specific work activities rather than general job types.
Almost a decade back, workplace moved from the rigid cube to an open plan system. Then the open plan work culture, coupled with collaborative spaces, arrived. (The argument at that time was whether to have collaborative spaces isolated from the work space.) This evolved to the Activity Based workplace culture.
The Activity Based Workplace (ABW) looked at work as seamless workflow where employees were not meant to be glued to their desk but instead, have the liberty to work from an ergonomic array of work settings. ABW work culture gave the employees to pick and choose their work setting based on the specific task in hand. It made them mobile and helped to bring forth excitement at work. Apart from work desk, an employee could choose to work from a hot desk, isolated pods, or height adjustable desks. Huddle spaces and collaborative learning, which was supported by technology and adequate writing surfaces, were spaces that could be used for scrum, meetings and trainings. These spaces are open, semi open or enclosed spaces. Areas for socializing (like a café) and rejuvenation also doubled up as spaces for town hall or large team meetings.
Going forward and specifically looking at the way our work culture is going to change due to the pandemic, the algorithm of workspace is going to look quite different not just due to this brusque pandemic interruption, but also due to technological advancements. This is, therefore, also a good time to introspect and take corrective measures in the way a workplace would like to function.
Today, with many companies still figuring out the efficiency of their teams working from home, the challenge does lie in cultivating and safeguarding the organization’s culture. The concern of data security is also an issue with several companies who deal with confidential data. Employees too, miss out on their office environment and the facilities that their workplaces offer.
Therefore, several companies are expressing the need for their employees to come back to work. While the emphasis will be on employees’ well-being, it will be imperative for the work place to still be flexible and efficient. The office space which employees would come back to, will need to have agile spaces, an Activity Based Workplace (ABW) for employees to be able to innovate, collaborate and also have focused work while they shuttle, to still choose to work between home and office.
In such a scenario, MEMO, The Maker Environments, Mobile Occupants Solution which works on a similar concept of being able to create flexible working spaces within the office, would work best. The user gets to choose from an array of workspaces, which could be moved around based on the need and work setting. MEMO space also works quite well for companies who are rapidly growing and innovating.
Companies today are being defined by their innovation and technology; in such a case, wouldn’t they want to apply technology at their workplace?
Whichever segment the company would be catering to, re-training and re-skilling is imperative, as the contexts today are shaped by the integration of automation, algorithms, data, and other technological developments.
The technical processes that need to take place as work activities shift provide a unique opportunity to rethink how workers engage with their jobs and how digital platforms can better connect individuals, teams, and projects. Immersive spaces would therefore be the future, where travel time shall be minimized and with use of technology, the meetings and collaboration will seem like having people in the same room.
Overall, the pandemic has altered some of our basics, and we will have to get acquainted with them. On a professional level, the way people work and the way workplaces enabled work for the employees would go through a series of changes. To be able to walk hand in hand with this new normal, every size company should come forth and embrace technology integrated workplace designs. Because bringing back the employees and making them feel safer again at work will take some serious modification in workplace.
“While the companies are reshaping their business; as designers, we will be reshaping your workplace to help you work safely.”
Similar Read: Post-COVID-19 Workplace Design Trends that May Stay Permanently
About the Author
Driven by creativity and innovation, Smitha is an architect who believes in building designs for people. She is a purist who eyes every detail until she has perfected it. She is a classical singer, a trekker, and a determined individual whose work echoes her deep understanding of society and human-wellness.
