Remote working was already finding its footing in workplace strategies. In 2020, everything changed and businesses were forced to shut their offices and switch to running operations from home. Even when lockdown restrictions were eased gradually, companies preferred remote or hybrid working for their employees. But, with the pandemic still going on, industry experts have questions over the future of the office. Is this the end of the physical office?

The pandemic has changed work and the office forever. What does the future of the office look like? The new normal is known as ‘hybrid offices’ where team members alternate their time between remote working and office working. There is a need to reinvent our offices if we want employees to return. Our offices have to adapt to new needs, behavioral and environmental changes, and productivity demands.

2021 has been another challenging year and we have experienced unprecedented changes. After the lost year of 2020, 2021 brought some sense of normalcy back into our lives. We started getting accustomed to the ‘new normal’ and return-to-office plans were set in motion. The future of work has been reimagined to be “Hybrid”.

First of all, I would like to thank our dealers in the region and our branding team for their extra ordinary efforts in making our physical presence in the Middle East bright and stylish. Maybe one of the most memorable moments for me was during the opening ceremony of our Kuwait showroom with our dealer Safat Home, when I saw the first video showing our guests and how excited they were to learn more about Sunon and the solutions we offer.

Wellness at the workplace is not a new concept but has gained momentum since the pandemic. As people are returning to offices, it has become a prime consideration for staff and businesses. Studies show that the physical working environment has an enormous impact on employees’ overall health and wellbeing but office designs do not always support the health and wellbeing of employees.

It has been said that the future of work is hybrid. More and more organizations have shifted from remote work to hybrid work models in 2021. A study by McKinsey & Company says that business leaders expect that their employees will only be required to spend 21% - 80% of their time in the office post-COVID-19. Hybrid and remote work are terms frequently used by managers but not always clearly defined.

I was appointed to take care of events and brand promotion for the Indian market. But over time, I took on more responsibilities of Digital content for the HQ team. Currently, I am in charge of branding for Sunon India and I am also supervising digital content and social media for Sunon Global. Over the past two and half years, I got opportunities to work on a global platform and collaborated with Indian dealers, the global sales team, and the branding team in Sunon HQ.

The office space we occupy has a major role in our psychological behavior and how we work. Workplaces have to be designed to reflect how employees behave, and in turn, influence their behavior. A well-designed office inspires motivation and innovation, while a poorly-designed one can hamper employees’ morale and productivity. Conceptually, there’s a science behind employee behavior due to workplace design.

A workplace is created and designed for people but often, it’s not human enough. In the past, offices have neglected the fundamental functional needs of occupants. Attractive office space is not enough if it’s not working for the users. Our workplaces should fulfill our human needs and help us flourish at work.

One size does not fit all and that holds true for workplace design as well. Post pandemic, there is a growing importance of worker wellbeing, and companies can optimize their workplaces in the design phase. Organizations are creating workplaces that offer a range of spaces for people to choose where and how they work. As people return to the office, companies not only need to focus on diversity and inclusion but also consider the needs of neurodivergent employees.

Office design is much more than color and space planning. Though often neglected or disregarded, texture plays an important role in making an office interior design work. Adding this to the design, furniture and materials bring warmth to the space and humanizes it. It is an essential element for attracting the right talent and giving the best impression to your guests.

The pandemic has changed the way we work forever. As change is the only constant, the expectations of employees and organizations have evolved…no more going back to the old ways of work whereas embracing more flexible work arrangements. The power of technology and digitization has now made it possible for more forward-thinking organizations.