When employees return to the office, open floor plans are out

As employees head back to the office, they want to bring the comforts and safety of working from home with them.

Employees are prioritizing safety and flexibility when considering their in-person office experience, according to a survey by Homedit, an interior design blog. Seventy-two percent of employees think vaccination status should be disclosed before returning to work, and less than 20% would like to return to the open office layout over concerns around hygiene and social distancing.

Employees report that staggering schedules, utilizing more outdoor workspaces and working from offices with doors are the top ways the workplace would feel safer when it comes to collaborating in-person.

“Many facilities have made changes to their procedures but have not invested in the building itself — and their occupants have noticed," says Vimal Kapur, president of Honeywell Building Technologies. “Workers are going to demand more from buildings in the future. Creating a healthier and safer environment will be a differentiator for staff retention and recruiting.”

Read more: Helping employees reach work-life balance

While organizations push for a return to the office and embrace hybrid arrangements, employees are attached to the benefits of working from home. More than half of employees are willing to take a pay cut to continue working remotely, and 45% would quit altogether if asked to come back to work, the Homedit survey found.

Employees listed more family time, a less stressful work environment and greater flexibility as the top benefits of remote work. Fifty-seven percent of employees say they would like the same flexibility they have at home in the office, and 45% would like to maintain a quiet work environment if they work in a corporate setting.

Read more: These 4 must-have benefits will get your employees back to the office

While workers are on the fence about returning to the office, they need a little help when it comes to creating a work setup that fosters productivity and healthy work habits. While 59% of employees have a dedicated workspace in their home, 11% work from their sofas, and 8% work from bed. Fifty-six percent of workers say that a proper desk chair is the most essential work item and 81% think that employers should pay for at-home office upgrades.

Work has been forever changed post-COVID — organizations should do their best to adapt to the new and ever-changing needs of their employees in order to keep them happy and at their company.

“Employees are no longer tied to the nine to five. They’re tied to getting their work done,” says Adam Segal, CEO of co-working space Cove. “That’s leading to a lot of behavioral changes that have a big impact on how we think about work. People want flexibility to say, ‘Just because I work doesn't mean my life stops.’”