The Future of Office Design: 5 Ways to Optimize Your Workspace for Hybrid Work

As remote work continues to grow in popularity and functionality for many employees and employers, companies are moving towards a hybrid work model, where employees can work both remotely and in person. As a result, office design is becoming increasingly important to optimize the workspace for hybrid work. Let’s explore five ways to optimize your workspace for hybrid work, straight from the team here at PURE Workplace Solutions.

Prioritize Ergonomics

With hybrid work, employees spend a lot of time at their desks, whether at the office or at home. Therefore, it's essential to prioritize ergonomics when designing your workspace. Here at PURE Workplace, we recommend investing in ergonomic chairs and standing desks that promote good posture, reduce strain on the neck, back, and shoulders, and improve circulation. Providing comfortable furniture can help your employees avoid work-related injuries and improve their overall well-being, leading to increased productivity and engagement.

Maximize Space

One of the biggest challenges of hybrid work is maximizing space, especially if you’re considering a hybrid workspace with fewer desks than employees. We suggest rethinking your office layout to accommodate more collaborative areas, like meeting rooms or breakout areas, to allow employees to work comfortably, even when they're not sitting at their desks. Creating flexible meeting or touchdown spaces that can be used for multiple purposes can help maximize the functionality of your space while still creating a comfortable environment for your employees.

Also, certain types of workstations like Herman Miller’s Ambit Workspace or Canvas Vista workstation systems incorporate multiple personal storage options for shared spaces, height-adjustable tables, connectivity options, and acoustic privacy screens. Employees can use these for blocks of time and are also shared spaces for other teammates.

Improve Acoustics

As hybrid workspaces become more popular, it's essential to consider acoustics in your office design. With more employees working remotely or in flexible spaces, it's important to minimize noise distractions that can interfere with concentration and productivity. At PURE, we like using acoustic panels, sound masking solutions, or sound-absorbing materials to reduce noise levels and create a quieter workspace.

Integrate Technology

Technology plays an essential role in hybrid workspaces, and it’s important to integrate technology into your office design. Equipping your office with the latest technology, like video conferencing systems, smartboards, and other collaborative tools, will enhance collaboration and communication between remote and in-person employees. Creating a tech-savvy workspace that includes a variety of connectivity options and audio and video capabilities can help your employees work together seamlessly, regardless of their physical location.

Embrace Natural Light

Natural light can have a significant impact on employee productivity, happiness, and overall well-being. Therefore, it's important to embrace natural light in your office design. It could be beneficial to try incorporating large windows, skylights, or even an open-air terrace to allow more natural light into the workspace.

Your employees are likely working in a naturally-lit space from home, near windows or a home balcony (or patio), so mirroring that amenity in the office space could greatly improve your employee experience. Not only can natural light help reduce stress and improve mood, but it can also reduce energy consumption by allowing you to rely less on artificial lighting.

Hybrid workspaces are becoming increasingly popular, and companies must optimize their office design to accommodate this shift in work culture. By prioritizing ergonomics, maximizing space, improving acoustics, integrating technology, and embracing natural light, companies can create a workspace that promotes employee well-being, productivity, and engagement just as much in the office as an employee might find at home. So, if you’re looking to update your office design for hybrid work, consider these five tips from the workplace design experts at PURE Workplace Solutions to create a functional, comfortable, and collaborative workspace for your employees.