COVID-19 lockdowns have put businesses on hold and, in effect, urged the necessity of remote work. This left people thinking about the future of employment and the offices where it is known to be confined. Yas Aloosy today looks at the possible scenarios, or rather, arrangements of offices in the future, now that vaccines against the virus are bringing us closer to some sense of normalcy.
 |
Image
source: digitaloceanspaces.com |
Signs are already creeping since the COVID-19 lockdowns pushed office work at home, says Yas Aloosy. Major tech giants in the United States are facing compromises with their use of a physical space for their operations. One example is Pinterest pulling out of a deal to move into a San Francisco office space that is nearly 500,000 square feet. The reported termination fee is about $89.5 million. Twitter, for its part, is now subleasing a portion of its San Francisco office that is about 100,000 square feet.
 |
Image
source: gep.com |
Design firms will have their hands full to solve adjustments faced by companies with their use of offices. Yas Aloosy points to possible configurations in this regard: workstations that observe physical distancing, the use of antimicrobial surfaces among furniture and appliances, smaller conference rooms, and many others. The open plan type will remain, however, despite previous doubts on its effect to productivity. A variety of the open plan that considers physical distancing and with optimal use of lighting and ventilation is being carefully considered.
What the future holds
Companies are seriously considering more work from home arrangements in the future. Yas Aloosy explains that savings is the overarching principle by which companies decide. Two factors are involved. First, employers need to determine the frequency with which staff must report to the office. This will shape the decision of company leadership to determine the amount of space that they will need. Second, companies now look to hire talents in places where they don’t have physical space. This gives an idea that hiring more talent overseas, working remotely in their countries, is not far-fetched.
