As the productivity debate between the proponents of remote and onsite work rages on, companies are starting to recognise that they may need to make significant changes if they really want employees to return to the office full-time - or even most of the time.That’s the word from Chaim Bronstein, head of the commercial department at Firzt Realty, who has recently concluded two major transactions involving companies moving premises to provide a better work environment for employees.
A desire for more direct communication. Humans are inherently social, and research has shown that face-to-face interactions between co-workers do foster deeper connections and better conditions for collaboration and teamwork. They also lead to more spontaneous discussions and impromptu problem-solving that can result in rapid service or product improvements and higher revenues.
Worries about weaker corporate cultures. For many companies, a shared work environment is a physical representation of their corporate culture and brand identity, and executives worry about the loss of shared values and goals if employees become too detached from that environment. They fear that workers who have too little direct contact with one another could easily become isolated and lose the sense of unity and common purpose that underpins most corporate success.
The cost of unused space. Many companies have downsized to smaller premises or let out some of their unused space since the pandemic and some have even progressed to hot desking as they accept that most of their staff are only going to be in the office for a few hours a week at most. However, there are still a considerable number paying rent for large spaces or whole office blocks that they would like to see being fully utilised as they were before the pandemic.