Five workplace trends for 2024: this is in and this is out

There are new workplace trends for every new year and for 2024 there are trends that are in and some that are out.

As more organisations understand that the workplace landscape has changed permanently, the focus in 2024 will be less on how many people come into the office and more on how the office can support people’s needs.

“To evolve with changing demands, the workplace will undergo several key shifts as focus moves away from static, monotonous office buildings to dynamic environments that prioritise choice and workers’ wellbeing,” says Linda Trim, director at Giant Leap, a workplace design consultancy.

She identified five emerging workplace trends to watch for in 2024:

In: Keeping it right | Out: Ge ing it right

“Work is dynamic and workplaces must adapt as work changes and employee expectations evolve, but only 38% of workplaces have been remodelled since the pandemic,” Trim says.

“The best workplaces will be designed for ever-evolving change, like retail environments which are constantly updated. ”

The physical workplace that is treated as precious and remains static, is definitely out.

In: Pheromones | Out: Light rings

Building relationships in-person simply cannot be duplicated virtually, she says.

“The richness of face-to-face communication is not just words, but also non-verbal cues, body language, subtle nuances and even the unconscious exchange of pheromones, which are chemical signals that play a role in human attraction and bonding.”

Shared physical spaces that foster a sense of genuine connection, allowing people to build trust, empathy and rapport are in.

In: People performance | Out: Real estate metrics

“The physical workplace must be effective for people to build community, grow talent, learn cultural norms and create alignment. This requires spaces for people to work both solo and collectively to get work done,” Trim says.

Global architecture, design and planning firm Gensler’s workplace research shows that better designed, people-centric workplaces have significant return on investment for individuals, teams and business outcomes.”

The old ways of measuring success by real estate efficiency, density, occupancy and “bums in seats” are definitely out.

In: Abundance | Out: Musical chairs

Navigating the new office with its social spaces, team spaces, unassigned desks and deep-focus rooms takes some extra physical and emotional space to get used to, a bit like learning to drive in an empty parking lot before tackling the highway, Trim says.

“Having more work points than people can provide an opportunity to comfortably try things out while knowing there will always be a seat available.”

In: Biophilia | Out: Dungeons

Gardens, outdoor spaces, office plants and parks have all become desirable, in ergonomically challenged workplaces.

“Light, fresh air and being surrounded by living things help us to concentrate, be more creative and healthier.”

The stark, anti-septic, dungeon-like workplaces where any living organism feels out of place, are therefore also definitely out.