2023-04-26 16:30:26
The last prejudices about remote work were swept away by the pandemic. Currently, companies in areas where remote work is possible work in a flexible or hybrid mode of work, which provides for part of the time to work remotely, and part of the time to be in person. Companies have accumulated experience in organizing remote work, employees have also learned to work from home, set up comfortable workplaces and increasingly choose not to go to the office. Employees who work semi-remotely have lower stress levels, are better able to focus and are more productive than if they work only in person, an Owl Labs study concluded.
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In addition, the longer an employee works remotely, the less desire they have to visit the office. This is confirmed by six employee surveys conducted by “Accenture Baltics” during the pandemic – people have developed new habits, a daily rhythm and have liked working remotely. An employee wants to come to the office an average of 1.2 days a week, concluded a company survey in which 70% or approximately 1,400 employees participated.
After the pandemic, we have carried out several activities to encourage employees to return to the office, but we see that the biggest concern is not to make working from the office mandatory. We have found a balance and invite employees to visit the office at least twice a month. These changes bring to the fore the thoughtful use of office space without overpaying for it. “Accenture” plans to reduce office space in other countries as well, thus reducing costs and continuing to invest in business and talent development. In Latvia, in 2020, “Accenture” closed the Riga office on Gunāra Astras Street, investing the saved resources in employee education and evaluation. This year, seeing the low workload in both Riga offices, “Accenture” has decided not to extend the lease of one of the offices in the VEF neighborhood – “Jaunaja Teika”, in the “Teodors” office building, even though in 2019 it was nominated in the “Interior” category of the Latvian Architecture of the Year award and is the newest office of the company in Riga. Also, the contract for office premises in Ventspils will not be extended. The company has calculated that the Accenture VEF office will fully meet the needs of the company. Of course, this would not be possible without an effective workplace monitoring system.
Nowadays, it is necessary not only to provide an opportunity to book a workplace digitally from home, but to introduce smarter solutions. Before the pandemic, the company created and implemented Seatify in offices, a sensor-based solution that provides dynamic in-person workplace booking. The system records in real time how many jobs are occupied and how many are released. It ensures efficient use of the working environment. The system also shows which workplaces are most valued by employees and which need improvement.
Plan wisely and trust your employees
We live in the era of the knowledge economy, where production and consumption are based on intellectual capital, and there is a new type of work relationship where each individual is responsible for how to manage his time. No employer will be able to do this better, as our daily schedule is influenced by many work, individual productivity and family factors. The employer’s task is to provide a flexible model so that the employee can work and live productively.
Similar trends can be observed in other countries. IT companies are moving to the smart economy. In the future, this will be the new standard of the knowledge economy. People will demand a hybrid work model from their employer to ensure a better work-life balance. This model provides much more options and flexibility, while at the same time it is a high level of trust on the part of the employer. On the other hand, such an opportunity will be provided to employees who have or will have the need to work from the office every day. Today, the time employees will spend in offices will be quantitatively shorter, but more qualitative. Employees will come to the office to build good relationships and productive cooperation, that is, in situations where it has added value, but at home, work will be done that requires individual focus.
The office enters the home, the home enters the office
The office setting cannot go without changes, because the office has always been an important part of the company’s values and identity. In cooperation with the office “Brigitas Bulas arhitekti”, “Accenture” continues to work on improvements in the VEF office to introduce the latest trends. We are currently working on concept rooms for design thinking sessions, various types of Agile ceremonies and team collaboration. Also, a significant emphasis will be placed on modern training rooms, where audio-visual equipment will be installed so that part of the training participants can participate in person, and part remotely – from other “Accenture” offices and countries.
As always, the office should be comfortable and functional. Of course, individual workplaces will remain in the office, however, it is expected that, in general, the number of standard workplaces in offices will decrease, while the proportion of spaces intended for collaboration and communication will increase, while not reducing the overall office capacity.
Another new trend is that the feeling of home is increasingly entering offices these days. An informal meeting can be held in the living room, business discussions can be held at the large family table or a confidential conversation can be held in the library. We do know that the most lively information flow is around the coffee machines and the most interesting conversations usually take place in the kitchen. The employer’s role is to support this.
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