Return to offices a matter of time, but a lot will change

The home office, applied on the unheard-of scale, has become a recipe for the challenging times, allowing to maintain the continuity of processes. Even though the experts point out that the offices will keep their importance, with office employees set to return to their respective workspaces at some point in the future, much is likely to change on the market, both in relation to the corporate work models, and inside the office buildings alike.

When the pandemic broke out a year ago, office buildings’ owners and property managers responded to the situation in a prompt manner. Following the guidelines of the respective authorities and organizations, various procedures and safety measures have been introduced across the buildings, with the objective, both in the past and at present, to minimize the risk of infection among the tenants’ employees.

– We have introduced a number of changes both in the buildings we manage, and in our own office alike – starting with the widespread measures i.e. stipulating procedures of conduct, supplying the buildings with disinfectants, enforcing an obligation to wear masks in common areas, and topping off the above with the installation of touchless devices – says Marcin Piątkowski, leasing director at Torus.

Torus has also conducted a market analysis. A special expert team was established, which in cooperation with respective consultants and suppliers has assessed close to 100 various construction solutions, also in the field of technology, the ones analysed, recommended, or implemented both in Poland, and abroad.

– We have carried out a comprehensive market review, while conducting a screening process evaluating real efficiency and reliability, choosing only those solutions, which – simply put – can have a tangible influence upon the employee’s safety and comfort. Some technologies, which are currently the talking point of the industry, were our standard products way before the outbreak of the pandemic, for instance, the highperforming advanced ventilation and aircondition systems. We have implemented a number of interesting proven solutions, with additional works being made testing others. Some of them will become our new standard in the buildings, now still under design, which we are planning on erecting in the near future – adds Marcin Piątkowski.

One of the long-standing standards in the Torus-erected buildings, among others, is to provide 50 m3 of fresh air per capita/ per hour, which accounts for the highest value on the market at present. The ventilation systems are equipped with sensitive F7-class filters that clear the air provided into the building from contaminants, whereas the air condition has the 3-gear steering, which ensures more circulation control. Additionally, the 3-meter office height measured from the floor to the ceiling creates – on top of the optical added values – a large and comfortable workspace, which accommodates more air than most offices available on the market.

Torus has also carried out research among tenants (with respondents occupying various positions – from interns to managers), in order to recognize various attitudes to the remote work, alongside fears that accompany the return to the office. Answering the question: ‘What do you miss while working from home?, 73% of the respondents pointed to the contacts and relations with people/ team as the things they miss the most. 56% of the respondents highlighted the fact that they experience a deficit in the field of information and knowledge exchange, while 36% have trouble separating private sphere from the professional one. The lack of an ergonomic workspace proved to be a main problem that impeded the home-office type of work for 40% of the respondents. Other problems relate to the disruption of the day rhythm (33%), and to the difficulty in focusing attention (26%). On the other hand, the question ‘What influences the sense of safety in the office?’ was replied in the following manner: 70% – efficient air-condition and ventilation; 68% – healthy and clean air; 67% – sanitary regime; 52% availability of means of sanitation in the workplace; 49% – possibility to air the respective indoor facilities; 44% – honouring the rules of social distancing.

The findings of the research come as little surprise. The home office, although being a practical solution, strips away numerous relational and social aspects, which accounted for a vital piece of the office life, which both the employees, and the employers considered a value. It also blurs the borders between the private and professional spheres, and makes it difficult for the managers to govern their respective teams. The pandemic has not let up, with most companies currently working in the remote or hybrid manner, which can be considered a way to minimize

risk, though, there are also companies that returned to their offices or are planning to. Some people find home office appealing, some less so. Some people would like to return to their offices, some other find it comfortable to work from home – the experiences vary. As much as the companies operate in the remote work manner, even if somewhat out of necessity, once the external factors change, and the end of the pandemic (however we understand it) starts to loom on the horizon, one will have to give some good thought to the future of the organization of work. It might resemble the new search for the values and sense in the sphere of work-life balance or employer branding, although today we look at them from a little different perspective – more home – than office-related.

DOKI Office Gdańsk – visualisation. Materials: Torus.

FORMAT Gdańsk – visualisation. Materials: Torus.

While discussing the future, much is being said about new models of corporate operations and changes in the work organization, alongside new functions of the offices. It seems that the hybrid-type work, which lowers the employee density in the office, and in real terms means that employees work from home or from office on a rotational basis, is likely to stay on for much longer. The experts, though, underline that we should apply caution and consideration while approaching changes in the work organization (e.g. permanent full or partial leaning towards the home office).

– We should differentiate between the re mote work as a practical and efficient tool for the times of crisis, and the business model based on such a mode of operation, even when consigning the pandemic to the past. Just because the home office holds good at present, the fact that companies maintain the continuity of processes and high efficiency, it does not mean that people know actually how to work from home, while having or not the conditions to do so. It is likely that many people find it convenient not having to commute to the office, but as a matter of fact, it constitutes a great cost at the same time – in social, relational, and private aspects – as the home and professional borders have totally faded away, of which today we are not fully aware – says Monika Reszko, business psychologist. The model of remote work and its assessment are based on the outcome, on the executed tasks. It all looks appealing when looking at numbers, but one shall remember that today we are still operating in the necessity mode. In some time the external factors are going to change, and it will be much easier to spot the negative effects of the changes.

– Although everything seems to be going well, in real terms managers have great difficulty overseeing employees scattered all around in their respective homes. The same goes for the level of engagement amongst the employees – apparently, it is on the rise, but we should be asking a question: Why? What stems from my observation is the fact that, to great extent, it results from stress, the need for work, and – generally – from the necessity to get by in the challenging times. The essential change in the work organization, should it take a permanent nature, shall be analysed from many angles. We need to bear in mind that people tend to get attached, need to live in a community, which is impossible to fill in through digital means. Therefore, the employers need an ‘office haven’ at which the employees shall arrive, even if it is not on a daily basis – adds Monika Reszko. 

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