Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, there was much speculation about the future of the office space. Will businesses need an office pace after adapting to digital working? Will employees want to go back at all?

Over a year on from the first lockdown, it’s clear that the office is here to stay, with employees returning to work everywhere. But for many businesses, the way they work has changed to the point where they’re making significant changes to their workspace design.

One trend that has been accelerated by the pandemic is the hybrid working model, where businesses operate with employees in the office and at home. The question for many has been how do we achieve this? In this blog, we look at the things companies can do to successfully integrate hybrid working, so read on for some top tips!

Acoustic Office Pods

With some employees working from home, it’s essential that those in the office are able to communicate with them digitally. Acoustic office pods are great for this, both in terms of privacy and connectivity.

These days, you can get ultra-quiet team pods that ensure private conversations can’t be heard by others. Some can also be made to include screens for Zoom or Teams chats, ensuring communication with all employees is made easy.

Collaboration Spaces

Some employees will organise their time so that office days are primarily for collaboration. Indeed, for longer meetings that require a lot of creative-thinking, it’s arguably best to conduct them in person to avoid information getting lost.

To facilitate a collaborative space, there a number of options available. For example, you can introduce glass-fronted meeting rooms with digital booking systems, shared desks with integrated power, coffee tables for ad-hoc meetings, pods, and lounge areas for a more relaxed approach.

Additionally, you can bring in portable white boards to really get those creative ideas flowing!

Activity-Based Working Set Up

Given that the office numbers will be reduced, there may not be the need to configure the space so members of the same department are close together. One alternative is to facilitate activity-based working, where employees are given the choice to work in a way that suits them.

Rather than being designated a desk, activity-based workers can choose from a number of work “zones”. These can include quiet areas for independent working, collaboration spaces, laptop booths, and breakout spaces to chat with visitors over coffee.

To make the space truly agile, you can also integrate power into furniture. Some companies even offer bespoke power installation to ensure the furniture suits your needs.

Space Re-Configuration

With reduced numbers, the office may need to be re-configured to make use of the vacant areas and dead space. The best solution is to contact a company that specialises in office space planning, as they will take into account everything from team numbers to working style to devise a suitable layout.

Some companies have even decided to make use of the dead space by sub-letting it to other companies – a great way to generate extra revenue!

Thank You for Reading!

So there you have it: four great tips to help you build the perfect hybrid working environment. Whether you’re looking to make a few tweaks to your office or conduct a design overhaul, these ideas will undoubtedly make a positive difference to your space and team. Your employees won’t want to leave!

About Rap Interiors

Rap Interiors is an office design, fit out and refurbishment company based in Kent. With over 30 years’ experience transforming offices, Rap offers incredible expertise on workspace optimisation.