Why the office simply cannot go away

I’ve talked before about the future of work. With COVID-19 drastically changing the way in which we live and work in a way it never has before, the future of remote and flexible working has never been more of a hot topic. 

Many people argue the benefits of working from home, with companies such as Twitter announcing that employees can work from home “forever.” There are others who argue that rotational office work will be the most effective type of work in the future.

However, Dr Tracey Brower, work environment sociologist and a Principal with the Applied Research + Consulting group at Steelcase, argues that the office is critical to work productivity and wellbeing, and it cannot, and should not, simply “go away.”

The best strategies combine working in an office and working from home. It is not an all-or-nothing. It is not an either-or. Deleting the office altogether is not the best option. The workplace offers all kinds of critical value—and it simply cannot—must not—go away.

In this article, Brower argues that there are five main reasons as to why this is. Let’s take a look at her argument and see what Brower believes the office provides, that working from home simply cannot.

Humanity and Innovation

Human beings are social creatures. We’re evolved from tribes and packs, from communities based on collectivity in order to survive. At our core, we crave connection to others - regardless of whether or not we are a self-proclaimed introvert or extrovert. Even for those who prefer working from home, the lack of physical human connection detracts from both physical and mental health, with a study done by the Society for Human Resource Management finding that 71% of people are struggling to adjust to remote work, and struggling with their mental health because of it. People are also more likely to report feelings of fatigue and sadness. Innovation, on the other hand, is often due to unplanned encounters in the corridor with co-workers. Teams work better when they can come together to work collaboratively and combine their best ideas.

Purpose and Energy

There’s no doubt that the office provides a sense of purpose; a reason to get out of bed in the morning, rather than roll out of bed into your desk chair, cradling a cup of coffee in your dressing gown while still half-asleep in your morning meeting. As Brower notes,

the physical experience of place helps foster this sense of being in it together.

Virtual meetings just can’t create the same type of energy and morale as the physical experience of presence can, which in turn helps with our sense of wellbeing.

Health and Wellbeing

This is a big one. With the global pandemic seeing a sharp increase in mental health challenges, combined with the lack of boundaries that working from home provides, the office ensures a separation between work and home life, creating more of a balance between our work and personal lives. It also provides more movement between/around offices or campuses (which has shown to enhance memory and learning), rather than the largely sedentary role that WFH plays. Being in the office affects all areas of our health, which is crucial to our overall sense of wellbeing.

Talent and Engagement

Brower states that

place is the most visible artifact of culture...the lobby communicates a sense of a company’s mission. Gathering areas demonstrate the value it places on collaboration and connection. The work café shows employees their experience matters. The windows, daylight and views are a subtle depiction of the company’s emphasis on wellbeing and its ties to the community.

All of these physical spaces are tangible symbols of recognition that attract talent, and in turn, allow for a greater depth of engagement both between employees and between the work itself and the employee.

Empathy and Culture

This is a big one. A culture of empathy and trust is more easily created in a physical space, rather than over Zoom, with MIT stating that

“physical distance can turn into psychological distance.” Goodwill, fellowship, links and shared understanding (that) allow us to work together most effectively...this is built more effectively when people are together.

It is also easier for leaders to focus more on the needs of their employees, with non-verbal making it significantly easier to understand when, and how, an employee needs guidance. 

As Brower acknowledges, working from home has many benefits, and companies should be offering flexible working. However, it is imperative that the office does not go away, and is amalgamated within flexible working policies in order to create a holistic work experience.

What do you think? Do you agree with this? Let me know in the comments below.