From creating positive experiences, to lockdown, sanitation regimes, and the implementation of a hybrid working model – this, in a nutshell, sums up how the last year played out in Polish offices.
January and February – the office ‘Eldorado’ continues apace
The office industry, at the start of 2020, had been dominated by the theme of creating positive workplace experiences. Companies would wonder what they could change or add to their proposition to build a loyal team and attract the best employees. The implementation of shared desks and alternative spaces such as creative zones, quiet rooms, informal spaces, and relaxation areas very often cropped up in conversations with our clients. Many employers had very ambitious plans and were optimistic about the months ahead,
explains Anna Bartoszewicz-Wnuk, Head of Workplace Advisory, JLL.
March – the home office concept, a baptism of fire
The first month of the pandemic was a time when we saw a lot of uncertainty both within our team and among our clients. After all, most of us feared for our own health and that of our loved ones, and on top of that we had to learn how to function under entirely new conditions. It feels noteworthy that back in February, the home office was treated as a perk and some employees were not allowed to utilize this model at all. However, from mid-March 2020, we have had no choice but to arrange our offices on couches, in kitchens or bedrooms,
adds Jakub Zieliński, Team Leader, Workplace Advisory, JLL.
April – will offices still be needed?
The declaration by some, in March-April 2020, of the demise of the traditional office space, was very much premature. It was clear from our survey that weeks of isolation, endless teleconferencing instead of normal meetings, having to share a home-based office with one’s family and the lack of comfortable furniture to work with, were a source of frustration and great discomfort for employees. We all wanted to return to normalcy, although experts already pointed out that our offices would have to permanently adapt to new social norms and customs,
says Jakub Zieliński.
May – offices ready themselves for the return of employees
Re-opening office buildings to employees could not happen in an off-hand manner and required the right strategy. At JLL, we spread the process over several stages, which included the setting up of a working team responsible for taking care of the operation in its entirety, preparing communication for employees, dividing teams into groups that could return to the office, labeling the office space and creating a system for booking desks. In the case of JLL, about 5-10% of our team returned to Warsaw Spire during this first period,
adds Jakub Zielinski.
June – offices will remain, but in what form?
What the offices were to look like depended on the length of the pandemic and how it would spread. In retrospect, it's hard to believe that in mid-2020 some of us were hoping that the pandemic would gradually start to recede,
says Jakub Zielinski.
The third scenario reduced the office to a bunker where everyone worked alone and was isolated from the rest of the team. This concept obviously failed, as time has shown us that we don't need offices for individual work, but we do need it to interact with colleagues, exchange ideas, or brainstorm, which is difficult to do in the long run via videoconferencing,
explains Jakub Zielinski.
Summer and autumn looking hybrid-like
Hybrid work is already such a universal concept that it seems to be a relatively simple working model to implement. In fact, it is a complex topic, requiring effective communication with employees, and educating the team in how to adjust company policies to the new reality. Still, there is no doubt that the home office is here to stay. According to JLL's 'Reimagining Human Experience' report, the number of days we work remotely will double from 1.2 days before COVID-19 to 2.4 days per week after the pandemic. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile for employers to ask themselves how much space they should adapt for team and individual work and how to adjust the office to the actual needs of their employees,
explains Jakub Zieliński.
Will 2021 bring more office diversity?
Interestingly, 34% of respondents would like to work in an office every day, 32% indicate the need for one or two home office days per week, 24% – three to four days, and only 10% of respondents want to work from home on a permanent basis. These results may, of course, vary depending on the company and the industry it operates in, but they clearly indicate a continuing key role that offices play in our daily lives,
explains Jakub Zieliński.
It’s worth mentioning that at the beginning of 2021, many employers tackled the topic of returning to offices with renewed energy. The vaccine has given us hope. However, it is important to base the planning process on the needs of one’s team and the key needs of one’s own business. Now, after many months of the pandemic, we are able to assess which elements of the office space need to be changed, how to remodel work, and how to navigate this new reality,
concludes Anna Bartoszewicz-Wnuk.
