Trends

Office alternatives: emerging new ways of working

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Looking back over the last 30 years, it’s not difficult to see a shift in the world of work – and its evolution is far from over. The globalisation of our workforces has been met by a demand for better lifestyles, creating increasingly expanding and amorphous business models and office spaces.

To get an idea of what the future of work has in store, companies need to remain up-to-date with the alterations already in progress. What’s more, implementing these changes could have significant benefits to businesses today, as they look ahead to plan for the market of tomorrow.

From ABW to WLB

Following the rise of hot-desking in the early 2000s, activity-based working (ABW) methods brought creative freedom and innovation to the offices of forward-thinking tech giants like Google. Now, work-life balance (WLB) is going beyond compromises over maternity leave and holiday to offer genuine flexibility to both companies and employees.

Deloitte’s 2017 Millennial Survey found that offering more policy elasticity isn’t only about altering office hours; it’s also about having flexibility over where you work. This study saw a 21% increase in the number of employees working from home this year, which is said to boost information retention and cut business overheads.

From big HQs to offices everywhere

As real estate prices rise in major cities and companies start to realise the benefits of scaleable workforces, more and more businesses are moving away from expensive property acquisitions and long-term leases. Instead, a global trend is emerging for satellite offices on short-term rents.

Employees are also benefiting from this mutating office arrangement, as it offers a greater scope for working near clients, within commutable locations or emerging markets. Data from our own Great Big Survey found that 63% of businesses believe local offices helped them better understand their clients, while 64% said it allowed them to retain local talent.

From open plan to innovation

With globalisation in full swing, co-working services have joined the market at an opportune moment. Open plan configurations and collaborative meetings are no longer enough: companies now want to include greater skill sets and to increase their client networks. This is where co-working comes in. So convincing is this modern phenomenon that the likes of Lloyds Banking Group, PwC and KPMG have all added co-working options to their office portfolios.

This growing trend is equally driving growth among smaller businesses in the longer term. Around 73% of firms told us that they’re renewing their co-working agreements as it allows them to scale without incurring extra costs.

From restructuring to team dynamics

The days of regular management restructuring might be over. Instead, the 2017 Global Human Capital Trends report suggests that organisations will increasingly use smaller, project-led teams informed by experts and managed from a distance rather than hierarchical structures. For example, Canada’s CBC news now arranges its staff by content type instead of by platform, with a central news desk managing each strand.

Collaboration is key

Whichever way you look at the changing nature of work, ideas of increased transparency and connectedness dominate. Smaller teams and office spaces create a wider spread of ideas and skill sets that intermingle with those from other companies. If managers are able to maintain a sense of team membership and interpersonal connection, these alterations should prove to be a successful stage in our continuously evolving global workforce.