Enticing Employees Back to the Office: Rethinking the Open-Plan Approach

In the wake of the global pandemic, a notable shift in work dynamics emerged, as a substantial proportion of the workforce embraced the advantages of remote work—an opportunity previously unexplored by many.

However, in the current era of rekindled economic activity, the reintegration of employees into physical office spaces has presented a formidable hurdle for numerous enterprises.

Hundreds of companies, including big household names like Unilever, Facebook and Google, have all unveiled directives recently to drive employees back into the office.

Despite this push from companies, staff are fighting back, and many would rather quit their jobs than return to the office.

While some of this resistance might be due to lifestyle changes, such as having children, acquiring pets or moving to a new area while working from home and needing ongoing flexibility as a result, some is due to the way offices are laid out.

Many home workers might struggle to operate in an open office environment where everyone can see them.

While cubicles might seem old-fashioned, they could be the best way to encourage staff to leave their home desks and return to the communal workspace.

For business leaders who are looking to tempt workers back to the office but unsure about how to do so, here are some of the key benefits that ditching the open plan layout and moving to a cubicle-based layout can bring.

Workers who have been at home for some time will crave the privacy they enjoyed there while also looking for opportunities to interact with others only when they want to. By offering them private booths to work in, with the option of stepping into break-out areas if they want to, you're able to combine the best of home and communal working into one. Expert office fit out companies like Amos Beech can help your business to design a productive working environment that suits today's empoyees.

Workers who have been at home for some time will crave the privacy they enjoyed there while also looking for opportunities to interact with others only when they want to.

By offering them private booths to work in, with the option of stepping into break-out areas if they want to, you’re able to combine the best of home and communal working into one.

Expert office fit out companies like Amos Beech can help your business to design a productive working environment that suits today’s empoyees.

Open plan offices mean there's less opportunity for workers to create a space they can feel proud to call their own. On the other hand, traditional office cubicles or private offices allow employees to personalise their workspace, which can improve their sense of belonging and comfort. Modern employees who've worked from home understand the benefits of having a space they can call their own when working, and will expect this in their company workspace if they are made to return to it, so it's worth investing in.

Today’s employees are often required to take video conference calls, or long phone calls, which can be difficult to do effectively when working in an open plan office.

With a cubicle layout featuring partitions or pod spaces for workers, employees can feel safe hosting virtual meetings and taking phone calls without worrying about the noise from other staff disturbing them and making them seem unprofessional.

Offer Personalisation Options For Individual Workspaces

Open plan offices mean there’s less opportunity for workers to create a space they can feel proud to call their own.

On the other hand, traditional office cubicles or private offices allow employees to personalise their workspace, which can improve their sense of belonging and comfort.

Modern employees who’ve worked from home understand the benefits of having a space they can call their own when working, and will expect this in their company workspace if they are made to return to it, so it’s worth investing in.

Encouraging your employees to come back to the office can be tough, especially if they’re now used to working from the comfort of their own homes.

By understanding what they need and creating a space that will give them everything they expect, you can make the decision easier and get more staff back into your office faster.