Office spaces will become a hive of activity in the future as more businesses embrace office designs which promote innovation, creativity and team collaboration, predicts commercial real estate advisors Colliers International. The EMEA Workplace Advisory team has published its latest report, Exploring the post-COVID-19 Workplace, which evaluates feedback from its global Work from Home survey to discuss future workplace trends.
More than 5,000 respondents from 18 different industries completed the company’s global Work from Home survey, which found support for the continuation of some working from home after the pandemic is over, but also a desire to return to the office to collaborate with colleagues. Some respondents also expressed a preference to having a defined work and home life. The report concludes that the office is far from dead, but that businesses are likely to embrace more remote working practices in the future.
“Attitudes towards remote working have been completely challenged by this global pandemic. The greatest surprise for many companies has been the realization that their organization can work remotely, be productive, and stay connected. This awakening has started a new conversation for many businesses as they explore their work processes, business culture and question what the future is for their workplace,” said Jan Jaap Boogaard, Head of EMEA Workplace Advisory in Colliers.
In his opinion, however, the office is very much alive and kicking, because it is hard to create a compelling team culture when working remotely, and we need face-to-face interaction in order to build true, meaningful connections.
(WBJ)