Remote vs. Return

The topic of conversation this time of year revolves around the ending of summer breaks and the beginning of a new school year.  We spend time and money ensuring we put our children in the best position to succeed but often forget about our own needs.  Adults’ schedules change this time a year as much as our children’s.  We need to make sure we set ourselves up for professional success along the way.

Remote vs Return

Companies, both large and small, are moving away from 100% work from home structures.  The professional trend that started in 2020 out of necessity has hit its peak and companies are evaluating how to move forward.  Many have turned to a hybrid office vs home balance while others are setting deadlines for complete return to the office schedule.  Everyone will have different options, but most people need to stop and think if their office setup is designed for their current needs.  How companies do business has changed in the last 5 years and we need to ensure our workspace is set up for us to succeed in the future.

Office Set up

Older office spaces are often set up with cubical panel systems that provide data ports, power options, phone lines, and a measure of privacy while working.  This typical type of office furniture was functional years ago, but do we still need things like phone lines?  Video conferences and software have made desktop phone systems a thing of the past.  Cubicles are a great option for some businesses, but they were also designed for a previous generation.  Additionally, open concept offices were the trend for a long while, but the lack of privacy can be problematic for some.  The modern world is all about keeping our personal information safe.  If you are returning to an open office concept is their adequate space for private conversations?

Additionally, how comfortable your office is matters.  Does your desk provide all the space you need?  Is your chair comfortable enough to keep you productive throughout the day?  These questions must be asked especially in places where we have spent minimal time over the last several years.  What we found comfortable and efficient years ago might not fulfill our current needs.

Cost per Reward

It is easy to talk about everything that doesn’t work in our current office setup, it is more difficult to fix all the problems.   Businesses are not lining up to remodel every office space they have.  There must be a budget and decisions on what matters need to be made.  We need to evaluate what older items can still meet our needs and what needs to be remodeled.  Repurposing a cubical setup is far less expensive than tearing them all down and starting from scratch.  Do we have too many storage rooms and not enough meeting spaces?  These problems can be addressed without having to redo the entire office. Purging and removing old filing systems and converting the spaces to meeting and conference rooms can be practical and done on aa budget.

Guest Spaces

How we use our guest and reception spaces moving into the future will be interesting and depend on the type of business.  Some companies will need these spaces as they will have customers and clients in the building often.  However, many offices will continue to use digital meeting options to replace these visits.  This raises thew question, how much reception space do we need?  The answer may differ, but it's useful to review these areas to determine their relevance, to see if they are comfortable and adequate, or remove them and repurpose the space.   Guests will always be part of the commercial office, but the frequency and number of guests have changed and will continue to change going forward.

As the job market and workplace experience continues to evolve, so must our offices.  We need space that fits our needs and furniture that helps ensure productivity.  If you feel like your office needs a change, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com for advice and quote options.