Getting in the zone
Employees returning to the office have high expectations that the work spaces will make independent, collaborative and hybrid working seamless experiences.
“Universal trends related to employee expectations of office spaces clearly show that hybrid working is here to stay,” says Iva Durakovic, a lecturer and researcher at UNSW’s School of Built Environment, who has written journal articles on the imperative of creating an office worth returning to.
“Researchers have dug into people’s attachment to the office and have found it’s often about a practical need. For Gen Z particularly, who are finding their own professional identity, the physical environment is important because it supports their need for social connection, learning and mentorship.”
The value of the physical space for young employees was also reinforced in new research from Australia’s largest B2B workplace supplies provider, Winc. The survey of more than 1000 Australian workers aged over 18 found that 91 percent of Gen Z are now spending at least three days in the office. The group also ranked updated spaces and tech that is more conducive to hybrid work as a key factor in drawing them back to the office.
The importance of place
Across all generations, those returning to the physical workspace expect high-quality technology and purpose-built zones that facilitate how they work. Today, that stretches from quiet areas to group spaces for in-person brainstorming and hybrid meeting rooms that make workplace flexibility seamless. “Office design needs to be carefully thought out to accommodate different modes of communication,” says Durakovic. “To solve distractions and acoustic privacy issues, decision-makers need to create zoning that takes into account how different activities have unique demands on space.”
With flexibility the new norm, there’s an opportunity for companies to reconsider the areas and tools that facilitate communication, connection and collaboration across in-person and hybrid work. Winc’s Contemporary Workspace Solutions make it easy to create a purposeful workplace, transforming outdated offices into vibrant hubs where people can collaborate in-person or through virtual solutions. Winc’s #workbetter experts have designed four spaces for different modes of work: in-person collaboration zones; hybrid meeting rooms for blended teams; personal desks for focused solo work; and communal areas to foster culture. It’s about making the office a place where teams feel confident they can connect and produce their best work.