Enterprises around the world have spent the past year in finding out ways to ensure that their employees get accustomed to working in the unprecedented world of pandemic. The way we work has always demanded the need for flexibility but it’s only in recent times that organisations have realised its critical role in shaping the way we work in the future.
This is because adapting to a flexible way of working has been highly successful. It has managed to make employers connect better with their employees, understand their resilience and shattered their beliefs of viewing 9-5 as the ultimate way of working. It also has enhanced employee satisfaction while keeping them productive. As organisations realise the importance of flexibility and the way it empowers both its workforce and themselves, there has been a surge in demand for a hybrid work model.
Given the scenario, enterprises have come to realise that to satisfy their workforce, particularly the younger employees, they will have to adapt and change. This has brought in the conversation to move from traditional office set ups and look for more flexible workspaces. As more and more large corporations, small business owners and freelancers look towards shared workspaces in 2021, we thought of taking you through the top five reasons why your business needs a flexible workspace in 2021 and beyond.
1. It provides a streamlined and assisted workflow
Both small and big enterprises spend a great amount of time on administrative work like looking after IT services, housekeeping, cafe and pantry services, inventory, facility management , etc.. When in a shared workspace, businesses get support for ancillary services and can focus their energy only on the core goals of the organisation and its people.
2. Enhances employee satisfaction
A traditional office set up makes it difficult for the management to allow employees to work at their desired hours. This is because opening their offices for the entire day can lead to higher renting, operational and electricity costs. Coworking spaces on the other hand with their 24X7 set up, give the freedom to employees to access their workspace whenever they want, along with the assurance of safety and security. .
Apart from this, these spaces offer access to a wide variety of areas like open spaces mutually shared by various companies, cafe and event spaces, meeting rooms and flexible/fixed desks. Coworkers are given access to different spaces to ensure they can work efficiently.
All these facilities and amenities clubbed together contributes to employee satisfaction and makes flexible workspaces a preferred destination to work from.
3. Custom built offices
Traditionally, the management focused on building offices that are functional. Today, one has realised that to boost employee productivity and morale, one does not need just a functional office but also aesthetically pleasing design elements to go along with it.
Flexible workspaces with their modern take towards designing offices provide the opportunity to businesses to custom build their private offices in the way that best suits their needs and represents their company culture. Once the plan is in place, the coworking operator takes care of everything from design to build.
Additionally in the Covid era, when it is difficult to physically visit the space often, flexible workspace helps one to analyse the space with their virtual access tools and setup the office as per their requirements beforehand.
4. Provides an opportunity to have satellite offices
Flexible workspaces give organisations immense geographical flexibility. Organisations can have satellite offices in different locations of varied sizes and hire talent from various corners of the world without having to spend a lot in setting up offices for their employees. This has paved the way for virtual office setups across the globe.
5. Offers access to a larger engaged community
With a diverse and inclusive community, flexible workspaces prove to be the best place to make new connections, network and collaborate efficiently to achieve organisational and personal goals. Apart from this, interacting with like minded individuals and participating in community activities boosts the employee morale and gives them a sense of belongingness.
Thus in conclusion, it can be said that flexible workspaces with their umpteen benefits prove to be a highly valuable proposition for businesses and they must make the best use of them in the post-pandemic world to prosper.
