4 Things Businesses Need to Consider When Choosing New Office Space

While the global pandemic has fast-tracked the WFH (Work-from-Home) ideology that many South African businesses have grappled with for some time, it has also placed a spotlight on the fact that humans are social beings who need interaction to remain productive and positive.

As much as technological advances, greater connectivity and lower data costs have has made it possible for employees to be productive from home, physical co-location leads to more interaction and innovation. Offices remain crucial for colleagues to see each other, ensure corporate culture is cohesive and business morale remains high. But: in order for offices to play its positive role in the success of organization, it is critical have a pleasurable experience about leaving their homes and coming to the office.

Building your office around your people leads to great efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Although many businesses have had to adapt their way of working, embracing decentralised workforces, hybrid- and flexitime models, recent studies and surveys by global research firms such as Leesman, Workplace Intelligence and MetLife have shown how employers had traditionally been focused on the success of their employees in the workplace.

A new dynamic is becoming more apparent - one which employers need to understand and embrace in order to ensure business success: today's employees across generations, are seeking fulfilment and connection in their work, meaning that employers who want to thrive in the post-pandemic environment, have to adapt their approach to their business's traditional office space.

So, what elements should business owners consider when looking for new office space?

In order to accelerate their business within this new way of working, whilst enhancing their company culture and fostering productivity: they need to put employees at the centre of decisions.

Organisations need to understand the role of employee experience in their business's performance more than ever before. Providing a positive, embracing working environment is quintessential - now more than ever - to ensuring business success. It is an accepted fact that happy, thriving employees tend to be more loyal, more engaged and make more meaningful contributions to their organizations.

So, how can organizations take office space decisions which put their employees first? Consider the following elements when choosing new office space:

1. LOCATION

"Location, Location, Location" - a well-known adage in real-estate terms. But when it comes to an employee-centred approach to office planning, location takes on a more human angle. Minimizing unproductive time spent in traffic is key for employers and employees alike. With the increased emphasis placed on a work-life balance, more employees - especially the younger generations, are looking to work closer to home, to avoid endless time spent of the road in traffic and lower their daily expenses such as petrol or transportation costs. Consider important elements such as access to public transport hubs and whether potential new office premises have ample parking space for employees who self-drive.

2. DESIGN MATTERS

Quite often this is pushed to the back of people's minds while they're searching for new offices. But, in the employee-centred approach, design is a crucial element in ensuring a positive work environment as it directly impacts employee productivity, engagement, and satisfaction. Elements such as natural lighting, access to fresh air and plants, the comfort of furniture, vibrant colour schemes and temperature regulation of offices and meeting rooms have been proven to have a direct financial impact on businesses based on employee down-time. Consider whether you would prefer to start with a blank canvas and design your own space, or find a fully fitted out office that you can move into quickly. Our teams work with you to establish the best design solutions for your offices.

3. FACILITIES

In an employee-centred approach, taking into account what ancillary facilities are available may go a long way to enhancing the employees' experience of their work environment, even if not directly related to their physical office space. Consider proximity to everything from recreational spaces, gyms, outside areas like parks, restaurants, day-care and educational facilities. Without a doubt, having access to all of these services (and even providing them for employees) makes the work day much smoother for your team.

4. TECH

As our workplaces are increasingly becoming more connected, also with our homes, as hybrid- and flexi-work schedules are on the rise, it's important that commercial office spaces support smooth and efficient working and ease of transition from home to office, with access to the latest technology. A recent study by Workplace Intelligence for Oracle found that "When employees suffer stress and other mental health issues they tend to turn towards technology before humans for support." This means it's more important than ever to built the right tech infrastructure to support fast, accessible WiFi in shared parts of the building.

Are you looking for a bespoke office solution to meet the needs to the changing business landscape? Our team of specialist brokers can help. From flexible, shared and serviced office solutions, to assisting with landlord negations, our team are your future-forward partners in office solutions.

Contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable brokers at OfficePlace or follow us on social media for weekly updates.