IWG Editorial June 2022

OCCUPIER SPACE

The Workspace open-plan communal office space.

FLEXIBLE OFFICE SPACE

Hybrid workspaces are trending. ITUMELENG MOGAKI talks to the experts about this and other trends within the sector

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ybrid workspaces are gaining popularity in the post-pandemic era, according to The Workspace CEO Beyers Müller. “When flexible office space became a ‘thing’, it was perceived as only fit for freelancers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.

“However, after COVID-19, this perception changed quite dramatically. Even the bigger companies now understand the value of being agile, flexible, and managing risk effectively,” says Müller.

He says that the hybrid model allows employers and employees to balance needs, namely, productivity, cost savings, risks, flexibility, and various working environments.

In addition, Müller says companies are future-proofing their businesses against the risk (fixed cost) of future pandemics. “Using the hybrid model has lower financial risks because of the flexibility it allows,” says Müller.

Joanne Bushell, MD of IWG South Africa, says even though they have seen a massive acceleration in the uptake of hybrid working, there is often a need to work with no distractions such as children, dogs, and vacuum cleaners, as well as have a place to conduct professional meetings.

This is where flexible workspace solutions come in, providing an IT infrastructure that far outweighs home networks, while simultaneously cutting down on crippling real estate costs, along with productivity gains and a greater ability to attract talent,” she says.

“Employees want to work either at the head offi ce or a fl exible workspace closer to their home to interact with other like-minded

people, avoiding that feeling of isolation,” adds Bushell. “They want the personal productivity benefi ts of living and working how and where they want.

“Businesses that opt for a fully equipped workspace often see an immediate halving of their property costs, releasing capital to invest in generating stakeholder value,” she says.

FAST FACT

The 2020 Workforce Sentiment Survey that collected data around employee experience and expectations while working remotely reports that 43 per cent of respondents would consider working from a company-provided location nearer to their home at least a few times a week.

WHAT’S TRENDING?

CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES

According to Müller, some of the leading trends in the hybrid workspace environment include: • Short-term office rental agreements, boardroom requests, and day packages are increasingly in high demand.

• Some employees enjoy working from the comfort of their homes, but many are returning to the office because they feel isolated and want some form of normality.

• Some clients want to see their teams face-to-face at the office (at least) weekly.

Müller says: “This remains a priority as it enhances company culture, teamwork, creativity, and recognition.”

• Some clients spend two to three days a week at their regular office and the rest at home.

• Employers continuously weigh the pros and cons of having employees in the office full-time versus the hybrid model. After evaluating the job function, employers consider which employees need to be office-bound to get the correct focus and performance.

“In short, if you find the right flexible office partner, the hybrid workspace model can fit anyone and everyone,” says Müller.

Bushell says the biggest challenge to a hybrid workspace model is co-ordination.

“Working in hybrid teams presents significantly more co-ordination challenges than working face-to-face. A culture of trust is essential for managing employees working autonomously and remotely,” she says.

“Frequent communication through well-established channels is key. It helps if you have well-thought-out management tools.”

Commenting on the advantages, Bushell says that using hybrid workspaces allows companies the financial flexibility to invest in their staff and grow the business, instead of the buildings from which they operate. “In our experience, businesses that opt for a fully equipped workspace, with everything from furniture to super-fast Wi-Fi, have more productive and mentally healther workforces, as employees spend less time travelling to city centres due to the proximity of flexible office spaces to their homes.”

In addition, she says companies view addressing the need for their people to commute to work as the single greatest contribution they can make to reducing their carbon footprint.

“They understand that by bringing work closer to home, they will immediately and significantly reduce the weight of traffic on roads and in cities across the world,” says Bushell.

“EVEN THE BIGGER COMPANIES NOW UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF BEING AGILE, FLEXIBLE, AND MANAGING RISK EFFECTIVELY.” – BEYERS MÜLLER 18

IWG’s co-working space.

IMAGES: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, SUPPLIED

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2022/05/18 11:29 AM

IWG A DV ER T ORI A L

IWG flex-spaces offer uninterrupted power, even during load shedding, and cutting-edge IT infrastructure.

HOPE AND PROMISE The hybrid working model is showing promise and providing hope amid the gloom of load shedding and escalating petrol prices.

By JOANNE BUSHELL, managing director, IWG South Africa

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

outh African businesses and citizens face tough times. Businesses suffer a loss in profits during load shedding because generally employees can’t work when there is no power. And, if that is not enough of a challenge, the rising petrol price is debilitating both employees and businesses.

PwC estimates that the adverse impact of load shedding in 2021 was a reduction in real gross domestic product growth of up to 3.1 percentage points, costing the economy up to 400 000 potential jobs. And, looking ahead, Eskom’s chief executive said recently that the power utility expects 61 days of load shedding during the April–August period.

Not all businesses have the privilege of alternate power supply; some are forced to close their doors because they cannot function or run their businesses as they do not have the infrastructure and security is compromised.

Crippling fuel costs are having a dire effect on employees. A study by Regus found that workers could save 960 million hours per year in commuting time by 2030 if they turned to flexible working options. That is a saving of more than 100 million tonnes of CO2. Not only can a shorter journey to work save employees money and boost their wellbeing, but it can also help reduce their carbon footprint, making it a better option for the environment.

When working from home, a Zoom meeting can be a nightmare if the space is

unsuitable or if there are interruptions from children and/or animals. And in the South African situation, where load shedding is a regular event, it can be maddening to sit for hours without power to charge a laptop or maintain an internet connection.

IS THERE A SOLUTION? The hybrid working model using flex-space offices is fast becoming a viable solution to mitigate these factors.

All you need to do is show up with your laptop and work. The rest is provided. We are seeing employees flock to our flexible workspaces, closer to their homes, to use our setup, designed to maintain power through load shedding. These centres offer much more than just office tools and supplies. They offer a service that improves the way people live; positioning them in suburban centres provides the basis for a simpler work-life balance.

In the future, the focus will be on providing flexible local workspaces, as opposed to working from home or a head office that does not have the cutting-edge IT infrastructure a flexible workspace centre offers. Working from home or from a stand-alone office places pressure on a business to ensure that the required infrastructure is in place. And while in ideal operating conditions, it might be possible to do so cost-effectively, the reality of load shedding makes it unsustainable.

IWG offices are fully serviced. All you need to do is show up with your laptop.

Instead of having to invest in backup power or alternative options, the use of a co-working environment alleviates that pressure. At face value, businesses not only get beautifully designed office spaces close to where they live, saving them money on fuel, but also access to amenities, including meeting rooms and uninterruptable internet connectivity.

From safe Wi-Fi to video-conferencing facilities, communal kitchens and cost-savings on petrol, co-working environments are becoming a vital component of ensuring a business’ longevity during these trying times.

The convenience and confidence of being able to work during load shedding has made the hybrid work model and flex-space a practical solution in our already struggling economy.

Providing business owners with the peace of mind that they can remain focused on doing what they do best, means that co-working spaces will grow in popularity and contribute to the growth of the country’s business sector.

➔ Scan this QR code to go directly to the Regus website.

For more information:

We are seeing employees flock to our flexible workspaces, closer to their homes, to use our setup, designed to maintain power through load shedding.

021 300 4366 www.regus.com RegusGlobal iwg-plc

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2022/05/18 5:52 PM