Work. Share. Connect
Working from home works and it is here to stay, according to research by StepStone and Acerta, among others. However, working from home after Covid looks a little different than before: it is more closely aligned with employees' needs and pays more attention to the design of both the office and the home workstation. Buro International takes a look at the future.
Agile working: more trust, less control
Employees are expected to carry out their tasks independently, with a minimum of supervision. In return, their employer gives them more freedom: less control, more trust. Companies will shape this new working culture with a new working model, in which they set clear goals for employees.
Less travel
Face-to-face meetings are being replaced by digital solutions. As a result, the number of business trips and work-related journeys will fall dramatically in the long term.
Hygiene above all
Working at a flexible desk is fine, as long as it can be done hygienically. Office furniture is subject to strict hygiene requirements for the materials used, and the use of buttons and door handles is limited wherever possible. They are replaced as far as possible by voice-command applications, automatic doors and taps.
Green is healthy
A green environment boosts productivity, creativity and concentration. This translates into offices with more natural greenery and even better ventilation. Buro International works with Mosmuur to achieve this.
Open offices
The open-plan office is being reinvented: fewer workstations in larger spaces, complemented by quiet areas where people can work undisturbed. Flexibility is the key word, so that the office space can be arranged according to the needs of the moment. Our interior advisers will be happy to help you with this.
Goodbye to the fixed workstation
The fixed workstation is disappearing, replaced by flexible workstations and lockers in which people can store their personal belongings. At flexible workstations, extra attention will be paid to hygiene, ergonomics and good acoustics. Did you know that our ergonomics and acoustics expert (Bert Claerhout) can help you on the way to your own Feel Good Office?
Teamwork makes the dreamwork
Informal spaces (a cosy coffee corner, seating nooks…), flexible collaboration zones and central meeting points encourage communication, creative interaction and efficient teamwork. Meeting rooms are equipped with the necessary technology to make smooth discussions with colleagues working from home possible.
And the home workstation?
The home workstation is becoming more important. Home workers therefore need a separate workspace, designed with attention to ergonomics and aesthetics, that creates a clear boundary between work and private life.
Feel good and future-proof
In short, companies will look for the right balance between working from home and working at the office. And that new balance will have an impact on the design of both home workstations and offices. Offices will become places with a high feel-good factor that encourage contact between colleagues and boost creativity.
The features of a future-proof Feel Good Office:
- Safety above all
- Ergonomics is key: the ergonomic workstation has become indispensable, both at home and in the office
- Greenery, light, ventilation and acoustics play an important role
- A preference for flexible, mobile furniture that can be used in different situations and settings (e.g. stackable, on castors)
Want to know more?
Want to create your own Feel Good Office? Our experts will work with you to design a future-proof office together with your employees or colleagues.
Tip: Listen here to Buro International's ideal 'Work from Home Playlist' on Spotify.