Many businesses ditched their offices when no one was using them during the pandemic. Now, larger corporates with less flexibility on their office leases are also thinking seriously about whether they, too, can reduce their office footprint.
Georgie Randon, Head of Marketing & Customer Experience at HomeWork Workspace in London’s Putney and Southfields, says, “Every business is different. But, in most cases, when they think about reducing their office footprint, they’re thinking primarily about cost savings, less energy consumption and employee preferences for flexibility. And they think about moving their employees to 3:2 working weeks, splitting their time between coming into the office and working from home.
“Businesses know there’s a social impact on their people though, of spending less time in the office interacting with their colleagues. Staff working from home are also spending more on energy and WiFi. Not to mention that personal situations and home logistics might not be conducive to home working.”
“But management teams don’t know what to do about it. There are major advantages to having a workforce working from home. But there are also significant downsides in social, developmental and mental health consequences.”
So, how can businesses leverage flexible workspaces to help keep staff happy, without defeating the object of commercial and sustainable aspirations?
A Hybrid Working Model Offers the Best of Both Worlds
With two contemporary shared workspaces in South West London (and more locations opening soon!), HomeWork Workspaces are on a mission to help businesses navigate the massive shift towards a hybrid working model, by providing an affordable alternative to working from home.
HomeWork recognises there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all working model. To this end, they offer bespoke packages that match the needs of every business and every individual, with fixed or flexible desk spaces, superfast WiFi, meeting rooms, private phone booths and refreshments to suit.
It’s something to think about seriously for businesses still undecided about which working model to pursue.
The Benefits of Not Being at the Office or at Home
Having a change of environment gives people the opportunity to switch from home mode to work mode when they come through our doors
“It’s a collaborative environment where they’re surrounded by other professional people doing exactly the same thing.
“The social impact on employees of having minimal interaction with others is removed. So is the stressful and environmentally damaging commute that’s a downside of working in London. It can be especially challenging when employees are juggling the school run and late finishes trying to get everything done. When they’re at HomeWork, if anything does happen, they’re close to home. But they’re benefitting from a completely different experience to working from home.
“Whether employees are high-flying executives or younger staff starting out in their careers, flexible workspaces provide the social interaction people have missed out on. But, without the grind of the commute or the unsuitability of working from home,” she concludes.
If you’re thinking about improving your office footprint without putting your staff second, contact Georgie Randon from https://www.homeworkworkspace.com/ at georgie@homeworkworkspace.com.
