Gone are the days when employees went to work every morning from 9am to 5pm.
The Covid 19 pandemic has led to a radical change in working practices, focused on employee well-being.
Below are the key factors that describe the new and improved modern office.

Modern office practices

When it comes to modern office practices, a few key points may come to mind.
As we’ve seen a huge shift in the way employees approach the idea of work, different employers have found it necessary to adopt some of these practices.
The most common are as follows:

Flexible working hours

The most common complaint most companies have faced recently is their lack of flexible working hours.
More and more employees are hoping to be able to choose their working hours instead of having to follow a rigid schedule.
The main reason for this is that we all lead different lives and want a better work-life balance.
If a person has many more responsibilities outside work, they may find a rigid schedule too restrictive and stressful.
And the more anxious a person feels, the less likely they are to be as productive as they could be.

The hybrid work option

Like flexible working hours, hybrid working has gained a lot of ground recently.
Not only does hybrid working allow employees to reduce their commuting time as well as their expenses, it also allows employers to acquire talent that isn’t restricted to the office’s geographical area.
This ensures that employers recruit the best talent.
It also ensures that talent is more likely to stay.

Focus on mental well-being

The modern office places great importance on employee well-being.
This includes a focus on mental well-being.
This can mean employers adopting more flexible working arrangements, but also providing workers with the tools and resources they need.
These tools can be as simple as offering workers more time off (sick leave or maternity/paternity leave), more vacations, as well as mental health or off-site work support.

Focus on physical well-being

Because poor physical wellbeing can have negative effects on mental wellbeing, employers are striving to ensure that their staff are in good health.
To this end, many companies have started offering packages for gym memberships or training equipment.
They also began to make working hours more flexible to allow time for going to the gym.
More commonly, they invested in ergonomic office furniture – furniture that encourages movement throughout the day.

Modern office spaces

While modern working practices are the first things that come to mind when thinking about office reform, there has also been a shift in the way employees want to work in the office space.
The most notable changes are as follows:

The opportunity to work together

Being stuck in a cubicle every day for hours on end can get pretty uncomfortable and lonely.
That’s why many offices have adopted the popular concept of shared workspaces.
Studies show that those who work collaboratively are more productive and creative in their thinking.
It improves employee socialization and motivation, and can be particularly useful for offices that need to place greater emphasis on workplace culture.
A bonus point for employers is that it leads to Bette space utilization!

The opportunity to work in private

While there are many advantages to collaborative working, it’s important to allow for independent working.
After all, the benefits of collaborative working depend entirely on the type of work involved.
If you need to count or read difficult texts to complete a task, chances are you’ll want to be in a distraction-free space.
The best office space is one that allows both independent and collaborative working.

Break rooms

Nobody likes to be stuck at their desk all day, which is why more and more companies are taking the initiative to add break rooms to their offices.
It has been proven that taking breaks throughout the day improves productivity and is good for a person’s mental health.

Break rooms are spaces where employees can relax and take their minds off things for a few moments.
It’s also a space where employees can socialize and get to know their colleagues.
This will help them collaborate more effectively.

Technology upgrades

You can’t expect your employees to be productive or enjoy working if they spend most of their time waiting for technology to keep up with their tasks.
The more technologically up-to-date a company is, the more efficient it will be, and the more fulfilled employees will feel.
Technology is particularly important if your employees have the option of working from home.
By providing them with modern tools, you’ll help improve communication and collaboration in the workplace.
Your business will be more efficient and productive, making it much more competitive.

Ergonomic furniture

Ergonomic furniture is one of the most important things you can provide for your employees.
Providing your employees with customizable furniture shows that you care about each and every one of them.
After all, one size does not fit all.
Ergonomic furniture plays an important role in employee well-being and productivity.
Sit-stand desks are adjustable tables that encourage movement throughout the day so that no one suffers work-related injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or musculoskeletal disorders.
Ergonomic chairs enable employees to adopt good posture throughout the day, so they don’t go home with severe back pain.

There are many ways to make an office ergonomic.
If changing furniture isn’t in your budget, consider investing in different accessories that could offer your employees some of the benefits associated with ergonomic furniture.
You can even rent furniture rather than paying the full price up front.
One thing’s for sure: you’re bound to see a difference in your employees’ happiness, well-being and productivity.