The old norms of the 9-to-5 office environment have been significantly disrupted since the Covid-19 outbreak.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, prior to this only around one in eight working adults reported working from home.
Levels of working from home peaked during the pandemic, with nearly half of all adults in the UK reporting working from home at some point in the week for the first half of 2020.
These numbers were obviously quite high during the lockdown and the pandemic’s peak due to Government guidelines asking people to work from home if they could and if they were not key workers.
Post-pandemic
After the guidance to work from home was lifted, the number of adults working from home has varied between 25 per cent and 40 per cent – a clear uplift on figures before the pandemic.
Many employers initially worried about homeworking due to fears about productivity. However, many saw no such decline and were comfortable allowing staff to work away from the office.
Hybrid working
As we move further away from the pandemic, the trend seems to be very much toward hybrid working – allowing staff the comfort of working from while also having days in the office that enable face-to-face interaction with their colleagues and better collaboration.
This physical interaction can be a much-needed boost to the mental health of employees, who may feel isolated or lonely working in a home environment for too long.
With hybrid working, employees no longer need a permanent desk at the office, so employers will often make use of hot desking.
This means employees can sit at any available desk at the office with their laptop and start work immediately.
Flexibility and adaptability
The transition towards hybrid working and hot desking allows companies to become more adaptable and potentially downsize their office space to reduce costs.
The typical 9-to-5 work schedule might not be suitable for everyone, especially when considering personal commitments, family responsibilities, and individual work rhythms.
With hybrid working, employees are given the opportunity to work at times that better align with their personal schedules, reducing stress and boosting productivity.
Maximising office space
Hot desking for all its benefits, can bring its own problems if not organised properly. Employees could find themselves wanting the same desk space, especially if they have planned to work next to a colleague for a particular reason.
Depending on the size of the office, employees could hot desk at totally different parts of the office, impeding the overall utilisation of the office which could be costly to the business.
A hot desking system can significantly reduce the amount of office space a business requires.
When employees are working on a rota or on different schedules, it is no longer necessary to maintain a permanent desk for each person.
This can result in substantial cost savings on rent, utilities, and maintenance – crucial savings for any business, especially during tough economic times.
Summa Tech’s desk booking software allows employers to book desks within the office, allowing you to maximise desk utilisation. Staff can pick a desk from the floor plan on the days they plan to attend the office.
If you’d like to know more about Summa Tech’s desk booking software and how it can help your business, please contact us today.