Now the holidays are over, people will probably be eager to come back to the office.
But is that really the case? And if it doesn’t happen; how bad is an empty office actually? Let’s look at it from another angle.
Since the introduction of hybrid working, the Dutch have quickly gotten used to working from home. In fact, it is sometimes seen as an acquired right. Employers try with much ingenuity to lure employees back to the office. Extended lunches, knowledge sessions, team days, you name it. However, the reality is that occupancy does not increase structurally. And when it does, it is often on the traditional office days: Tuesday and Thursday.
Office costs
Seen very black and white, it makes no difference to you as an employer in terms of costs whether the office is empty. After all, you already pay rent and the associated costs. In fact, your financial situation is no different than about four years ago. But it is a pity, and moreover, it is not very sustainable.
The most obvious solutions are currently being implemented: reducing office space by returning it to the landlord and/or closing floors on ‘ghost days’. In the latter case, you not only save on energy and cleaning costs, but you also promote collaboration by bringing people closer together—more on that topic later.
In our research for clients, we see a balance emerging in office use: on average, employees come to the office 2 to 3 days a week, with a clear preference for the ‘infamous’ Tuesday and Thursday. We increasingly advise our clients to simply accept that. Evenly spreading office use throughout the workweek remains a utopia for now, despite all efforts.
(Co)working
Cost savings is an important issue, but often not the most important for your colleagues. They come to the office for collaboration or to write a complex document. Both situations require a different kind of workspace. If you decide to reduce square meters, make sure that employees are well supported in their activities on the days they are in the office. Inventory and implement the necessary adjustments. An office that is too full can also have the opposite effect.
Then explore the possibilities to close floors on quiet days and maybe even the entire office on Fridays. You can safely test this and see what the reactions are.
Discovery Journey
Hybrid working is a journey of discovery for both employers and employees. Where is the optimal balance? How are my competitors doing it? What can we expect from each other? Parella can be your guide and provide a suitable solution. So, feel free to call us for a no-obligation introduction; we do like coming to your office.