Hybrid Work is Spurring Bigger, Smarter, Greener Offices

Physical offices aren’t going anywhere: Capterra research reveals that 76% of companies have moved or plan to move to a larger office to meet the unique needs of hybrid work.

Contrary to conventional wisdom in the remote work era, companies are increasing their office footprints. Capterra’s Office Trends Survey reveals that most organizations are moving to larger office spaces and reimagining functional design by integrating tech and green spacese.

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While remote-first businesses are shedding office space, hybrid businesses are going bigger.

Even though employees won’t be there the entire work week, 76% of companies—a majority of which will be hybrid long-term—have moved or plan to move to a larger office. Of the four percent of businesses that will be totally remote, however, 69% are eliminating their office entirely.

“Any notions that the office is dead should be put to rest,” says Brian Westfall, principal HR analyst at Capterra. “Our data shows that offices will be critical to the future of hybrid work for most organizations, and employers are eager to update offices to make them bigger, smarter, and greener.”

Activity-based-working and green design prove beneficial for employee well-being

Activity-based working (ABW) is a design concept that values a variety of workspaces catered to specific tasks over isolated cubicle work. Less than a third of companies (31%) used ABW concepts in their office before the pandemic; however, a majority (55%) have either implemented ABW during the pandemic or plan to implement ABW in the future.

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Another popular office trend is biophilic design, which brings natural elements into the office to improve employee morale (big windows, plants, etc.). Incorporating natural features into office design can impact worker mood substantially. Companies are taking note; 76% plan to implement biophilic design into their office

“If employers look ahead to where office design is heading, biophilic and activity-based working design are the future. It’s encouraging to see companies getting rid of boxy, one-size-fits-all offices in favor of more flexible spaces to help reduce burnout,” says Westfall.

New technologies are safeguarding offices and increasing productivity

Contactless technologies and dedicated video conferencing rooms were implemented by 44% and 43% of companies, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both capabilities are credited for safeguarding against security vulnerabilities, deterring the spread of the virus, and improving overall office productivity.

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