Social Distancing Will Change Everything in the Office World

As Social Distancing Enters our Lexicon, Office Use Trends Are Set To Pivot

Much ink is being spilled about how our world will change. Here’s one more data point for you: the densification movement in corporate office space is officially over.

We are working with clients who have employee populations that cannot work from home. Think about folks that handle calls that require sophisticated technology, privacy and monitoring such as financial services. Of course, those people need to be in an environment where they can perform their duties in a safe manner.

Here are two trends emerging right now:

De-densification of office space

Companies with on premise requirements for employees are looking for new space that is ready to go right now. They will move to spread people out in their existing portfolio and when they secure that new space they will quickly move employees to the new location.

Finding the new space is tougher than it sounds because inspecting locations is hard (though virtual tours are happening at an astonishing pace), and also because it could take months to get fiber and technology ready because no one is at work.

If offices are coming back in vogue, and I predict they will, then I want a private bathroom and a big bar. You can come by anytime, but stay six feet away with your drink in hand, please.

A and B workforces

In order to keep workers healthy, some real estate directors are working with HR to divide large groups of people doing the same kind of work into two different physical locations. This pattern of A & B workforces helps solve for quarantine requirements if someone becomes infected and has exposed other workers.

It will be interesting to watch how office space design is changing, yet again. But you can rest assured that the office furniture industry, architects and others supporting this sector are spinning up new approaches as I write this.

Turns out that “benching” is a very dense environment is so 2020. We are on to the next thing and it involves a lot more office space.

Note: These are my personal views and in no way represent the views of Cushman & Wakefield