Never has our relationship with ‘the office’ been more discussed, scrutinised and under the microscope. Nope, we’re not talking about the comedy series starring Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman et al, but rather, that bricks’n’mortar space we used to commute to before the whole working world changed forever.
Though even as recently as yesterday, some experts were calling on companies to ”remain flexible as COVID-19 batters “back to office” plans”, many are increasingly finding that they actually rather miss the physical space of ‘work’.
Whilst the idea of rolling out of bed and flipping open your laptop in your jim-jams sounded kind of appealing at first, the view in 2022 is rather different, as many Brits find it hard to get motivated and productive when working from home.
In fact, in a 2022 report it was revealed that 69% of the labour force were experiencing burnout when working remotely.
Perhaps the death knell for the physical central office was sounded a little too prematurely? That said, changes are inevitable in the way we interact with the space, and it’s likely we’re going to see a reimagining of offices across the UK once restrictions are lifted and it’s safe to return to work.
Should you be an owner, manager or a person responsible for the layout of your workspace, then you’ve likely been considering how to change things up. With that in mind, here are 6 tips for a successful post-COVID office fit-out.
Firstly, What Exactly Is An ‘Office Fit Out?’
An office fit-out is a little different to a fully blown refurbishment or relocation. Rather, the term describes a process of redesigning the interior spaces of your office to suit the changing needs of the occupants.
Due to the impact of a global pandemic, central office spaces looking a little different in 2022 as we return to something approaching normality, with spaciousness and comfort a priority. The continuing modernisation of communications channels is also likely to be required, as employees divide their time between the central office and the home office. As such, interior design choices which are encouraging of a flexible working environment will be essential.
Create A Space That Adds Value To Your Brand
Before you begin drawing up plans for your office fit-out project, it’s important to determine how the new design will improve the operations of your business. The new design should also reflect the vision, mission, motto, and desired appearance of your organisation to your visitors, reassuring them in a post-pandemic world that you’re back in business and responding to a changing world with dexterity.
In other words, this new space should be a reflection of your brand identity and an extension of your marketing strategy.
Also consider using colours that will inspire and motivate your employees; orange, yellow, and green can boost productivity, thus adding value to your brand in another way.
Set A Realistic Budget
It’s likely that the vast majority of small and medium sized businesses will be working within tighter margins in a post-COVID world. It’s essential, then, that you set a realistic, meticulously planned budget that will suit your team’s desires and ambitions. Essential items include:
- New furniture and equipment
- Overall design
- IT and telecommunications infrastructure
- Fittings and other finishings
Not planning carefully may incur delays in building or overruns in budget, both of which could be hugely damaging in the race to get up and running again post-COVID.
Make Safety A Priority
Carrying out an office fit-out may not be as simple as some people would like to believe, with health and safety concerns more pressing than ever. Therefore, it is essential to enlist those with expertise when considering various elements that will keep your staff and customers safe; this isn’t a job that you want to take into your own hands, particularly in a post-COVID world where safety is of paramount concern.
From floor slip resistance testing if you’ve installed new flooring to new fire safety training should the position of extinguishers and exits have changed, there’s a surprising amount of scope where health and safety is concerned. You might want to employ specialist health and safety consultancy to oversee these concerns.
Read: 6 crucial ways to keep your office disinfected and clean
Consider Open-Office Design
As we’re all very much aware, it is now possible for people to work from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. Therefore, an office fit-out can present you with an opportunity to restructure the layout of your office to incorporate the more open communicative needs of companies moving forward.
You can remove cubicles and create a more collaborative workspace where employees can freely interact during their work. With this strategy, it is possible to save money on the total floor space and you can convert some office space into client areas or conference rooms. All of this is, of course, dependent on social distancing measures being lifted, so do leave some room for flexibility within your floor space design.
Consult Building Management
Many offices are located in commercial buildings, especially in central business districts. Therefore, it is vital to work with building management to ensure that all the work conforms to building codes, specifications, and other requirements set by management.
All the changes should be approved to avoid a situation where you design something that will be condemned by the owners of the building, or worse, fall foul of environmental health legislation. Doing so would be incredibly costly for your company.
For more thorough advice, do check out the government’s official guidelines on making your office COVID-safe, which were last updated in April 2022 to reflect recent changes in policy towards the pandemic.
Consider R’n’R In Your Design
Working from home will have provided certain home comforts which staff will miss once back in the office. As the kind, responsible employer which we know you are, it would be a generous, potentially productive move to factor in additional lounge and recreational space in your office redesign.
By allowing employees to have space to relax and ease their mind, it will ultimately increase their concentration levels and focus. In the long run, their productivity and most importantly job satisfaction will be improved. Do check out our article for some of the ways your office design can reduce workplace stress for more on the subject.
The Bottom Line
Fitting a new office design or move is one of the biggest projects that your company can undertake to improve its overall image and productivity. If you’re hoping for a fresh start, or you’re looking to reassure current clients and colleagues that the global pandemic hasn’t shaken your company’s ambition or values, then an office fit-out is a great way to convey this message. Good luck!