Every office is different. Each one has its own rules and its own needs. But there is one drawback that most companies experienced: not being prepared to have all  employees working remotely.

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Operating costs became a headache.

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We found ourselves in a global pandemic. In less than a week, doors had to be closed while interrupting operations as little as possible. Utility bills are decreased, but still had to be paid. Our office square footage became more and more unnecessary as time went by. 

At one time we had planned to have a bigger office, to have more open spaces and more staff. A year after the pandemic, we looked back and realized that we didn't really need that much space. We can continue to grow in numbers without adding more office space.

According to JLL (2021), office space leases have decreased by 90% in the last year as compared to 2019. 

Small-company trends become those of big companies

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While we used to see small companies saving costs by renting shared spaces that would allow them to have the resources of a large office at low cost (such as meeting rooms, adequate technological equipment, and use of the office as an occasional workspace), today we see large companies transforming their offices into spaces designed to be used occasionally, with hybrid work routines and and coworking models.

What can we expect in the coming years?

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All large companies have one thing in common: they know where they are going and how to get there. This is why they are moving to flexible workspaces and hybrid working arrangements, even in departments and areas where it was thought impossible to do so. 

This past year has taught us much about how to set up hybrid working arrangements in the best possible way. Companies are not only implementing remote work but opting to convert their offices into spaces that can be freely accessed according to employees' personal plans.

Nowadays it is common to see companies offer their employees free cafeteria services, snacks, playgrounds, relaxation areas, transportation, and much more. We see many employees who choose companies and remain in them not only for the pay but for non-monetary offerings, which satisfy part of their needs in the best Maslow style.

Companies' futures lie in their employees – happy employees who value their work and take personal interest in it, just as their employer values and takes interest in them.

A future where employees do not want to stop working for companies that offer flexible working arrangements.