Will there even be offices in the future?

Will there still be offices in the future?

With the easing of pandemic restrictions, the conventional office is returning to daily work life. However, the decentralization of work has gained much approval in recent years. More and more people prefer flexible home office to the traditional office. Against this background and the growing desire to switch completely to home office, the question arises: "Will there still be offices in the future?"

The "New Work" trend

The "New Work" concept, coined by American social philosopher Frithjof Bergmann, describes the structural change in our modern working world. Influenced by digitalization and the increasing importance of individual questions of meaning, the working world is changing from pure career pursuit to values such as passion, self-realization, meaningfulness, and a balanced work-life balance. Flexibility and personal development are becoming increasingly important and also influence the work environment.

Core elements of the "New Work" trend:

• Innovative working

• Participation in company affairs

• Team community & cooperation

• Personal potential development

• Efficient & effective working

• Flexible work design

• Digitality

• Mindfulness, meaningfulness, and sustainability

• Balanced work-life balance

A US study shows that 39% of office workers over 40 would rather quit than give up their home office. Among millennials and Gen Z, it's even 49%. At the same time, 56% of respondents express positive views on coworking and hybrid work.

This trend is also growing rapidly in Switzerland. At the end of January 2021, about 25% of employees were working from home. Despite declining numbers due to relaxed pandemic restrictions, the desire for flexible working remains high. A complete return to traditional office culture is therefore unlikely. Instead, employees are demanding a combination of remote work and office presence.

Flexible working models as a vision for the future

Flexible working models such as "Hybrid Work" are meant to replace the conventional office and meet the requirements of the "New Work" trend. As early as 2020, many employees were using hybrid working models, working partly in the office and partly in the home office. Some companies allowed full-time home office or office work, others combined both.

Against this background, the role of the traditional office is controversial. While some companies are fully committed to remote work, others are convinced that the office should keep its place in the modern working world. After all, it has proven successful and profitable over the last hundred years. But where do traditional concepts find their place in a progressive world?

Offices in the field of tension between "Hybrid" and "New Work"

Digitalization presents new challenges and opportunities for the working world. Many employees benefit from this development, as the increase in freelancers and self-employed shows. In the US, around 57 million people work as freelancers, 53% of whom belong to Gen Z. In Switzerland, too, the number of self-employed rose to about 1.5 million at the beginning of 2021.

Start-ups and small businesses are also on the rise. Thanks to e-commerce and modern web design, more and more young people are founding innovative companies. Digital nomads and flexible home office models are widespread, as are coworking spaces, which offer a platform for fixed workplaces without large investments.

Advantages of coworking spaces for landlords and tenants:

Landlords:

• Additional rental income

• Creation of synergies and community

• Reduced administrative effort through platforms like "maison"

• Promotion of hybrid working models and collaborative working

Tenants:

• No investments in infrastructure

• No capital blocked by rental deposits

• More flexible growth and better adaptability

• Less administrative effort

• Fair and standardized sublease agreement through platforms like "maison.work"

The future of offices in the modern working world

The question of whether companies still need offices and fixed workplaces is subjective. Each company has individual ideas, concepts, and needs. While the "New Work" concept appears universally applicable, specific work concepts must be tailored to each company's profile.

Working models such as home office are becoming the new normal, while employees are looking for collaborative models. The conventional office remains an important part of this flexible work design. For many, the conventional "office rental" is no longer an option as it comes with commitments and high costs. At the same time, companies have unused desks through hybrid work that can find new use in coworking spaces.

Conclusion

Conventional offices will continue to exist alongside hybrid work and home office in the future, enabling flexible work design. An adaptive office community integrates the aspects of the "New Work" trend and promotes a progressive corporate culture.

The ideal working environment varies depending on needs and tasks. Some work best from home, others in the office or on the go. What is certain is that the office workplace should remain an inspiring place and be open to those who want to use it. Companies with space can reduce their costs by renting and offer attractive deals to smaller firms. The future of work will be characterized by diversity and flexibility, and offices will play an important role in this.