Is the hybrid workplace the office of the future? In our opinion, yes. With hybrid work mode staying with us for longer, adjusting the workspace to the new reality will become much more common. In this article, we shall look closer at this phenomenon. Did we spark your interest? Then read on!
What Is a Hybrid Workplace?
Before we delve into how a hybrid workplace fits into the future of office design, let’s stop for a minute and explain what a hybrid workplace is.
A hybrid workplace is a model in which employees are given freedom (limited or not) to decide when they want to work onsite and when remotely. It is highly connected to office design, as offices in companies embracing the hybrid model need to be adjusted to the varying numbers of employees present in them every day.
Why Is Hybrid Workplace the Future Office?
So, what are the reasons that make us believe that hybrid workplaces are the future?
For starters, we can observe creating hybrid workplaces among the top 2024 office design trends. Employers are becoming more aware of the benefits coming with such a solution, and more companies adopt this approach, to get the best of both worlds: traditional and remote work.
And, since we are on the topic of the advantages of hybrid workplaces, we need to mention them in more detail. After all, they are yet another proof that this approach is, indeed, the future. So, what are they?
Increased Productivity and Efficiency
Hybrid work models, and hence hybrid workplaces, can boost productivity. The flexibility to choose a work setting that suits individual preferences enables employees to optimize their productivity. It fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, driving efficiency in both remote and in-office work scenarios.
Cost-Effectiveness
While productivity is crucial, the true reason why we believe that a hybrid workplace is the future lies in the financial benefits that come with this solution. After all, they are usually the largest incentive for the employers.
Hybrid workspaces are cost-effective as they enable businesses to cut down their operational costs significantly. With fewer employees in the office at the same time, organizations may save money on various levels, for instance:
- electricity usage – with fewer employees using the office, the bills will be lower,
- office equipment – you don’t have to purchase a desk and a screen for every employee if you know that hardly ever all workers will be in the office at the same time,
- office space – in the hybrid model, you can opt for a smaller, more flexible office, thus reducing the costs of renting the workspace.
Employee Well-Being
Another powerful advantage that comes with hybrid workplaces and proves that they are the future is their positive impact on employee wellbeing. It all goes down to the choice.
Since employees in the hybrid workplace can decide whether they want to work from home or from the office each day, they might pick the option that is better for their health. They won’t have to stress out about getting to the office on time every morning, as they will simply choose what’s best for them.
Take a look at the typical introvert vs. extrovert example. Both of these groups have different, often contradictory needs. In a hybrid workspace, introverts will be able to limit social interactions by working from home, while extroverts will be able to join their colleagues in the office every day, both achieving what’s best for them.
Employee well-being is a crucial element in modern office design, as it helps reduce stress, increase productivity, decrease professional burnout, or even shrink the number of sick leaves taken by employees. And, since a hybrid workplace caters to the well-being of the employees, it is bound to become the office of the future.
Building a Hybrid Office with Thinktanks
Understanding how versatile and flexible the hybrid workplace has to be, you might be wondering what solutions are best to embrace this office of the future. Well, while there is no one best answer, we have something that might help you achieve this goal: our work pods.
One of the key challenges in designing a hybrid workspace is linking those working remotely with the employees in the office. For that, you need to have places where your teams can comfortably jump on a call and cooperate with the remote workers. Office pods fulfill this goal, providing the ideal, soundproof space for video calls while at the same time taking little space to fit into the overall cost-effectiveness of hybrid offices. That’s why we recommend them for any hybrid office.
The Takeaway
Is the hybrid workplace the future office? Once again, yes. It’s the perfect solution in terms of cost optimization, productivity maximization, and caring for your employees’ well-being. Therefore, do not hesitate to embrace this model and design an office space that synergizes with it!
You may also read: Pros & Cons of the Different Office Layouts