Office Space During Covid-19

Covid-19 and the Office – Since the Pandemic hit us all towards the back end of March (when the lock-down began), each and every business has had to re-assess the way it works and has had to change and adapt to the new working environment. Covid-19 certainly has had a big impact on the office and how people work.

The myth that working from home would reduce productivity has finally been debunked and laid to rest and new technologies such as Zoom, and Teams have come to the fore. The businesses I interact with are all using technology to have virtual video meetings and conference calls. It has become the new norm.

Most office-based businesses were quick to adapt and react to the situation. It did not take long for almost the entirety of all the UK offices to be moved to kitchens, living rooms, spare rooms, etc. Seeing children and pets pop-up during online meetings is now an accepted norm. I would say because of the technology we have now, the change was pretty much seamless, and people are getting used to it. The way we work and where we work from is certainly going to change as we move forward.

So, is this the end of office space as we know it? No certainly not! No doubt there will be some fundamental changes in the way we work, and businesses will become more flexible and allow their employees to work from home. I think the main changes we will see are:

• Staggered starts
• Offices will be mainly for meetings
• Covid-19 safety will be paramount, so safety measures will be put in place for all types of businesses
• Office rentals will be far more flexible
• Many businesses will down-size and rent smaller office spaces and have regional bases for their employees

Certainly, it will not be the end of the office space, but we will see a shift in working practices. For many businesses personal interaction is still vital, where meeting people in real life produces better results than seeing each other online.

Office rental will need to become far more flexible to meet these changing needs in a Covid and post Covid world. The Time and Life Business Centre will be able to offer the flexibility that businesses seek. If you need to change your office requirements, then do not hesitate to contact us via email info@tlbusinesscentre.co.uk or call us on 0203 9769944.