Following an increase in the number of employees working from home or splitting their week between working from home and in the office, it’s understandable that the role of the office has come into question - particularly following recent Government advice. However, we’re of the mindset that the office most certainly isn’t dead, and still has an important purpose alongside considerable benefits for employees and companies.

Here’s why the office isn’t dead, and is in fact, more important than ever:

1. The office is a place to connect and bring people together

The office isn’t just a place to work; it’s a place to interact, converse, collaborate, discuss, and so much more. It’s a place to connect and bring people together, to not only benefit work, but provide employees with a better feeling of fulfilment from their job. The office is a destination for all of this, and it’s this social aspect that is more important than ever to balance out remote working. Greater fulfilment at work as a result of the office environment is linked to increased productivity and happiness, so businesses and individuals will continue to reap the benefits of having an office space.

2. Face-to-face interactions are more meaningful than virtual ones

Technology has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to connect with one another virtually, but we’re beginning to realise just how much we took face-to-face interactions for granted. In-person conversations help us to build rapport, trust and empathy, all of which are crucial to the development of good relationships going forward. Although there are undoubtedly many benefits to remote working, the office still has a very important place in helping colleagues to build solid relationships.

3. The office is important for company culture

We’ve offered advice on how to maintain a good company culture with a remote team previously, but nothing can help boost company culture quite like an office environment designed to bring the team together. Even with social distancing regulations in tow, increased engagement between employees is linked to greater happiness, and happy employees help to shape a great company culture.

“Company culture is important to employees because workers are more likely to enjoy work when their needs and values are consistent with their employers. If you work somewhere where the culture is a good fit, you’ll tend to develop better relationships with coworkers and be more productive.”

— The Balance Careers

4. Employee wellbeing can be boosted by the office

The topic of employee wellbeing has become increasingly important to businesses over the years, and it’s extremely important that we don’t lose sight of it now. The office has the potential to boost employee wellbeing in a multitude of ways. The office is a space designed with purpose: to work, thrive, inspire, and collaborate, among others. An ergonomic workspace enabling employees to produce their best work, making sure they have everything they need, including comfort, in order to thrive. This not only boosts the wellbeing of employees, but boosts productivity and creativity as a result. One of the many benefits of the office!

“Healthy spaces protect us from that which can make us sick, promote practices that can keep us well, and facilitate opportunities for us to connect with one another and live our lives to the fullest.”

— The International WELL Building Standard

5. Not everyone has access to a suitable home office

Moving from being an office-based company to a fully remote one can be problematic to your existing employees, but also affect future candidates. Many workers have adapted their homes to feature a home office of some extent, but the reality is that not everyone has the space for a home office, and therefore lack the facilities to separate their work time from their home time. Additionally, the home can be a huge distraction for many depending on their living situation and who they live with, so it’s important to recognise that working in the office is still a preferred option for many, and can be an important part of a company’s recruitment strategy.

These are just five of the many reasons to confirm that the office most certainly isn’t dead! An office space tailored to the needs of a business has unquestionable and considerable benefits to employee wellbeing, happiness, productivity, company culture and more.

If you’re questioning the importance of your office or struggling to justify the payments associated with your current office space, there are multiple considerations that may help to bring your office space in line with the needs of your business. Many companies are now able to downsize their office space now that their workforce are splitting time between working from home and in the office, meaning that there is the potential to find a cheaper lease agreement. Perhaps you no longer need as many desks as you have and could instead focus on adapting the workspace and changing it into more of an agile hub? We can give your employees a reason to want to work in the office!

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