_Return to the office to rebuild company culture

As this strangest of summers rolls inexorably towards autumn, so the arguments for and against returning to the office gather pace. There are strongly-held opinions on both sides, which will be causing severe headaches for hard-pressed HR departments across the UK and there is little doubt that this debate will rage for months to come.

I have already suggested, via a column in the Yorkshire Post, that the demise of the office has been exaggerated. Certainly working from home, thrust on many unwilling companies at the outset of this pandemic, has proved to be a relative success. Hitherto regarded as an excuse to recover from a hangover or spend a day in the garden, working from home, or WFH as it colloquially known, is now an indispensable part 

But that does not mean that the office has – or will – become redundant. I believe strongly that the spirit of co-operation and camaraderie, fostered by working together closely in the office, was instrumental in the success of working from home. Spurred on by a desire to contribute to the success of their company in an unprecedented crisis, many employees channelled their commitment to the colleagues and their managers by working as hard at home (if not harder) as they did at the office.

But this cannot continue indefinitely. The pressure that working from home places on the family, especially those with children, is immense. Many people need a change of scenery, a new shot of inspiration, a face-to-face conversation with their boss, a water-cooler moment or that relaxing after-work pint or glass of wine with colleagues. Zoom meetings in the spare bedroom or the kitchen, lose their appeal after a while.

Company culture is also extremely important – and working remotely can damage that. What creates and drives culture, values and behaviour is the office environment. While it has been possible to maintain the company’s culture virtually during lockdown, moving more permanently to working from home would definitely make it difficult to preserve.

So the office is here to stay. But what kind of office will it be post-lockdown? For a start, social distancing rules will have to be observed, even if the immediate threat from the Covid-19 virus has receded. So the idea that offices will be smaller, and major office deals will become obsolete, is nonsense. As personal space becomes more important, and desks are spread out, the demand for large floorplates will remain.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) is already giving clear advice about best practice for the re-occupancy of offices. This advice should provide a blueprint for both the design and the culture of the mid-21st century office. First of all, it is critical to build trust and confidence with staff to ensure that they feel safe to return. Without that confidence, any change to the office environment is doomed to failure. Nobody is able to work effectively if they feel unsafe or worried.

There are specific ways in which to increase the safety of staff. Enclosed spaces can be used as individual workplaces, i.e small offices, small meeting rooms and phone booths. Open spaces must have workstations that are 2m apart – and clearly marked as single occupancy.

Hot-desking is out. Larger meeting rooms must be treated with great caution; each room must be evaluated, using the 2m separation yardstick to determine maximum capacity.

The same rules apply to office cafes, microwaves and water points. Reception areas will have to be remodelled to ensure queues and close personal contact are avoided, while receptionists themselves should be behind screens. All this isn’t going to be easy, as office occupation has become denser during the past 10 years, as we explain in Knight Frank’s new report Roadmap For Re-occupancy.

Here in Leeds, there have been a number of significant office deals during the past two months which confirm that the office is definitely here to stay. One of the most high-profile was the decision by fast-expanding law firm Knights to take 22,000 sq ft at Rushbond’s Majestic in City Square, next to the station. Knights will join Channel 4 in this superb, state-of-the-art building, a template for the 21st century office.

The city already has other occupier-ready buildings, too, which have tackled the challenges of the modern office. Take 34 Boar Lane, for example, arguably the most dynamic mixed-use destinations in Leeds. Formerly CGU House, and located immediately opposite the railway station and Trinity Leeds shopping centre, the 56,000 sq ft building has been transformed into diverse community of like-minded people shaping a place together, with connected environments -  digitally, physically, socially, but within a design-led, tech-savvy quality space for occupiers to work safely within.

Inspirational buildings such as 12 King Street, 34 Boar Lane, Platform, One City Square and Town Centre Securities’ comprehensive refurbishment of 123 Albion Street, together with proposed developments, such as CEG’s Temple on the city’s South Bank, point the way to a bright post-Covid 19 future. The modern office must change – but there is every indication that developers and occupiers, working together, can create a new office environment where everyone can work safely and productively together. As a result, working from home will become an occasional and attractive option, rather than a stressful, pressurised necessity.