The Role Of The Workplace In 2023 – Why In Person Is More Effective

Returning to the office has become inevitable this year as load shedding and a shaky global economic outlook force companies to rethink their management strategies.

Making the transition from full remote or hybrid working to being back in the office most days of the week will pose a challenge in the months ahead – and that makes it essential for companies to redefine the workplace for major success.

In this article, we take a look at the sweeping changes taking place in offices around the world as companies ask employees to return to their desks, and find out how workplaces can transform themselves to remain productive and competitive in the post pandemic environment.

2023: As work from home ends, it’s time to feel at home in the workplace

In our previous post on the impact of load shedding on HR decisions at major SA companies, we highlighted an emerging trend of employees returning to the office out of necessity.

The RTO (return to the office) policy is not unique to South Africa. Major corporations around the world have been reversing their work from home policies, with commercial buildings from New York to Dubai filling up once again.

This is excellent news for the Cape Town commercial property sector but how will HR managers and team leaders deal with a wave of workers coming back to the office after several years of highly independent remote working?

Since the pandemic began (and even in the years before 2020) there was a lively debate in management circles about the pros and cons of flexible hours and remote working.

While the policy has several benefits, including increased flexibility and opportunities for disabled workers and single parents, it has been far from successful for many companies.

With relationships key to a great workplace experience, managers are welcoming the opportunity to return to the office and redefine how and why they do what they do. Some of the disadvantages of a full remote policy cited by business owners and team leaders include:

Disconnected teams
Difficulty monitoring productivity and ensuring that KPIs are met
A lack of collaboration and ideation resulting in lower productivity and competitiveness
Inefficient use of time during meetings due to bandwidth issues and technical errors using apps like Zoom
Lost opportunities for collaboration and mentorship, especially with new employees who were onboarded during the pandemic

The good news for both companies and employees is that virtually all of these disadvantages can be negated with a return to the office.

The key to making this policy work effectively is to redefine the concept of what the workplace is and who benefits from its existence. Here are some strategies to design a workplace that offers productivity and profit for employers and opportunities for personal and career development for employees.

The workplace as a talent incubator

The idea driven and technologically advanced economy of today requires a constant stream of innovation and new ideas from companies – and you don’t have to be a visionary like the late Steve Jobs in order to disrupt your industry.

Incremental improvements and new strategies can deliver small increases in productivity and profitability on a rolling basis that add up to a huge competitive advantage over the years.
Collaboration, skills, development, and a cohesive team environment are all essential for great ideas to be born. A recent Gallup poll shows that 65% of workers rate upskilling at work as a desirable feature when choosing an employer.
The most effective way to create this atmosphere is via a workplace that fosters creativity, support and open communication through a physical space that makes teams come alive.

Here are some strategies that will help transform your office into a workplace of the future.

Returning to the office full-time? Make these changes

If you’re cancelling your remote working policy altogether, it’s essential that your employees return to work for good and find the office transformed into a place that they can’t wait to come to – and hate to leave at the end of the day.

Here are the factors that will transform your workspace for 2023 and beyond

Comfort. Ergonomic office furniture, social spaces that foster engagement, and even an “ideas lounge” are all great ways to put your team at ease and get the creative juices flowing.
Embrace the latest technology. Fast internet, upgraded devices, and advanced biometric security features will create an environment that’s geared for your company and team’s shared future.
Emphasise mentorship through common spaces. Keep managers and staff within polite but close distance by eliminating segregated workspaces on different floors.
Create opportunities for authentic professional development. Training facilities and meeting rooms that look more like studios and less like classrooms are a must.
Get input from all generations of workers on your office design. Your company’s future will be in the hands of Millennial and GenZ workers who join today. Get their input before you make major office design changes and their buy in will follow.

Harness the creative power of meetings with on trend collab spaces

In person meetings produce more and better ideas than online sessions, with an average of 13 new ideas being generated when people meet face to face.

In addition, companies with a strong learning culture report 30-50% higher retention rates, and that means a talented and sustainable team for the long term.

You can harness the power of collaboration by creating meeting rooms that are bright, modern, and spacious – preferably with Cape Town’s Table Mountain or the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop seen through large windows.

As employees return to the office, catering your meetings with healthy snacks and drinks from your on site or neighbourhood coffee shop can add an extra incentive for those crucial brainstorming sessions.