Post-pandemic working life: Flexible working patterns and more office space, but physios likely to be kept busy

IT’S the first anniversary of lockdown and we have made ALL the WFH mistakes – jostled with the cat on Zoom, left the microphone on and joined in on the wrong chat.

From firebreak rate to ‘you’ve frozen’ – we’ve adopted a whole new set of vocabulary and curated our very own private workspaces just how we like it, with the lighting and our choice of podcast providing the background chitter chatter.

In fact, a survey by digital workplace coaching firm Ezra has revealed employees would be willing to sacrifice promotion, pay rises and company benefits like a car and healthcare to be able to continue working from home.

But workers are missing their colleagues? A new study commissioned by HowNow, a leading intelligent learning platform has revealed more than two thirds (67%) of workers in the UK feel ‘disconnected’ from colleagues and four fifths (80%) and half admit (49%) this is having a negative impact on how they view their job.

So can we get the best of both worlds?

WE’LL ALL BE WORKING

IN FUNKY OFFICES

It’s going to be very hard for businesses to entice their staff to work in stuffy old offices and the big employers are already thinking about making their working environments more people friendly.

The Very Group, one of Merseyside’s biggest employers and a firm that has experienced strong revenue growth despite Covid, has totally transformed its campus HQ ahead of the return to offices.

The £2bn retailer is setting its sights on a new, permanent hybrid working model. Renovations include an open-plan environment with break-out and collaboration spaces, as well as hot desks allowing colleagues to work anywhere on site, and green spaces to accommodate the new world of work.

That’s as well as a conference centre, juice bar, relaxation zone and gym.

Richard Mounsey, from Stoke-onTrent-based property firm Mounsey Chartered Surveyors, said flexible workspaces, office designs that are smart ‘technology-centred’ with good commuting links are all key factors.

He said: “I still see the office as an essential part of business life, the way we may operate from the business may change, the size of building may change – say, upward or downward, the requirement for better quality of space for many business will increase, but there will still be a need.”

EXPECT YOGA, GYMS AND LIVE MUSIC IN NEW LOOK WORKSPACE Sleep pods popularised by tech giants Google, Facebook and Samsung, live music and yoga could become a more sight common across Bruntwood’s office space in Manchester, according to strategic director Andrew Cooke, as part of the group’s bid to encourage office workers away from working at home full time.

He said: “Over the past year we have been doing a bit of horizon gazing, trying to work out what customers will want their office spaces to look like once the pandemic is over. Customers are looking at space in a very different way than before and we have had to adapt to what they want.

“People don’t just want a binary office space anymore, they want so much more than just having a desk.”

THE FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION

Danny Parmar is business development manager for office fit-out firm Overbury and Midlands and East Anglia chairman of trade body the British Council for Offices.

He said the evolution of the workplace was a continuing process and one accelerated by the pandemic.

“The future workplace is all about collaborative spaces focused on the needs of its users, rather than the employer. Lockdown has proved that,

with the right technology, working from home can be productive and attractive for employer and employee.

“However, for an organisation to be successful, it needs its people to collaborate, socialise and be fully immersed in the culture of the business, especially the younger generation. This cannot be done from home so employers need to create attractive workplaces where people can do things they can’t from home.

STAFF NEED SPACE TO SHARE IDEAS AND MEET CLIENTS

Tom Roberts, head of strategic investment at L&G Investment Management Real Assets, believes the UK office market has a future with a blended approach to working.

“People might not need such big desks, but require more spaces to be able to breakout and collaborate. For me the concept you go to work to get your head down, is something that will change significantly in the coming years, and again be accelerated by the pandemic.

“I think there will be a more flexible approach going forward.”

WE WON’T GO BACK STRAIGHT AWAY

Andrew Cooke, strategic director at workspace provider Bruntwood Works in Manchester said getting people back into the office might take some time. He said: “It’s completely understandable that people will be feeling anxious so it might be a while until offices are back up to full capacity every day of the week.

OSTEOPATHS, CHIROPRACTORS

AND PHYSIOS WILL BE BUSY

A study conducted by Engage Workplace, a leading South West office design, refurbishment and fit out company, revealed almost half of work-from-homers suffer backache, headaches and shoulder ache.

Kate Morris-Bates, clinic owner and practical wellness expert, said: “Common themes that are emerging: many working at makeshift desks in their home – crouched over a laptop with rounded back, neck, shoulders. Many have sub-optimal ergonomic arrangements – desks, chairs, keyboards etc – with most people working at the kitchen table.”

YOU MAY WANT TO START CLAIMING TAX RELIEF WFH

If you’re not going back anytime soon, it might be worth applying.