Introduction

The big question is, What’s Next? Corporate America is in an unprecedented situation here in 2020. We are all in this together, trying to answer What’s Next. Whether your workforce has already physically returned to the workplace, is returning soon, or is waiting until 2021, one common thread exists: the workplace will never be the same. Meyer has been regularly communicating with our corporate clients and our One Global Design partners in major international cities to continually find the answers to What’s Next?

Here are some topics that are being discussed, analyzed and strategized. Download Our PDF Guide

Leadership and Culture

Companies have spent years and millions of dollars building their unique brands and fostering their individual cultures. The design of the physical office and the interactions it creates both shapes and supports a corporate culture, and it is the shared responsibility of Leadership, Human Resources, and Real Estate to maintain and encourage cultural growth.

LEADERSHIP

CULTURE

Work from Anywhere

Companies have been pleasantly surprised at how well the workforce and the business could adapt to a mandated, immediate work from home policy. This shift has caused companies to pause and think about permanent alternative work strategies.

Innovation and Productivity

The physical office is here to stay, but how an office is used will evolve. As employees have now experienced a prolonged work from home situation, they are beginning to understand which tasks are best to do in a home or “heads down” environment and which tasks are best done in collaboration. Efficiency, productivity, and innovation are measuring sticks for this dual environment evaluation. The physical office space is most effective for teaming and collaboration based activities. Taking cues from the Agile Work Method, the use of dedicated teaming rooms will continue to rise.

Health and Wellbeing

In recent years, there has been a surge in positive attitudes about health and wellbeing in workplace initiatives. However, many companies are slow to implement them. Understanding their benefits and using them could be the edge that an organization needs. Employee wellbeing doesn’t need to be costly as a minimal investment can produce effective results. Research has shown that there are many reasons why workplace wellness pays back. Of course, it is hard to calculate the payoff in monetary value, but you can measure the gains in your team’s performance and general wellbeing. Our environment contributes to holistic health and has a lot to do with how it supports humans physically, how we think, and how it promotes psychological health and safety. Here are some key topics of conversation to consider when it comes to health and wellbeing in the workplace:

Facilities Upgrades: Now is the Time

Now is the time to take advantage of a temporarily vacated building and provide a refreshed or rethought workplace for when your employees return to work. Running design and construction projects in an occupied building or campus is always a facilities manager’s biggest logistical challenge. Many companies are taking advantage of this “empty building” time to renovate, especially large volume spaces like cafeteria, parking lots, lobbies, restrooms, or workstation areas. While long term design solutions should not be swayed by the pandemic and social distancing trends, we can take some cues and lessons learned to design for a better, healthier future.