Is The Office Now Unnecessary?

Recent research from the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) has shown that 63% of UK employees, in a recent poll, believe the office to now be unnecessary since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forced the vast majority of the UK workplace to be home based.

The IWFM is calling on employers to offer a form of hybrid work space for all, with the flexibility to work both from home, the office or multiple locations and if not to potentially risk losing, particularly younger employees to competitors that offer such flexibility.

Demand for hybrid working would appear to be particularly important for the younger demographic in a poll which surveyed around 2,000 office workers, with two thirds of 18-24 year olds intimating that not being offered flexible working options could make them look elsewhere for a new role.

‘The Truth Is, Home Versus Office Working Should Not Be Viewed As A Binary Choice Between Focus And Connection’ – Chris Moriarty, Director of Insight, IWFM

It will be interesting to see, going forward, the effect the Pandemic has on the office working environment. Already, we are seeing businesses adapting space within offices to incorporate social distancing across desks and allocating space within the building for employees to be able to use for reflective, personal usage.  Washrooms and kitchen areas are under greater scrutiny than before with hand sanitiser now a permanent fixture in both. Most certainly commercial office space and usage has had to adapt over the last 12 months and, going forward, may be used and viewed very differently to accommodate the needs of staff like previously never anticipated.