Since the beginning of the pandemic, employees have handled the challenges of adjusting to a remote setting to keep a company moving forward. With company discussions of making this a permanent switch and employees’ clear capabilities of working from home, the need for an office is re-evaluated. Even though work can be completed remotely, there are several reasons why offices have more value than we think.

Why is the office important?

1. Humanity and Innovation

An office fosters togetherness. Employees engage in face-to-face communication that ensures an impactful level of connection. In turn, this boosts physical and emotional wellness. The human desire for real interactions is partially hindered by technology.

In-person communication sparks creative thinking. Employees can build on each others’ thoughts, allowing for a quick exchange of information that aligns with effective ideation. Additionally, new ideas can arise from casual encounters, illustrating the importance of unity in the office.

2. Purpose and Energy

An office creates a common ground, literally and figuratively. A space that keeps employees together facilitates a shared purpose and aligned objectives. The Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) finds that 65% of companies reveal they have struggled to maintain morale. Although virtual connections take place, being in one location promotes solidarity that propels employees in their work.

Being present in the same space and sharing an experience creates a special feel that is hard to replicate in the remote work environment. An energized room promotes engagement that can fall flat with at-home distractions.

3. Health and Wellbeing

The office better matches humans’ desire for variety in activity. Several experiences occur in the office that differ from the stationary home atmosphere. For instance, the physical movement that comes with variety improves memory and thinking. The wellness component also includes the separation of work and home life, allowing employees to leave home distractions behind when in an office.

4. Talent and Engagement

As a place that visibly represents company culture, offices attract talent. The structure of an office sends a strong message about a company’s values and approach for executing work. A defined space for employees to thrive in also supports engagement that may be lacking at home with easy distractions such as social media, online shopping, family members, and other responsibilities around the house.

5. Empathy and Culture

When employees are together in an office over time, they build trust with one another. Emotional closeness that occurs with physical proximity strengthens a shared understanding and effective teamwork known as social capital. In the remote environment, culture is more difficult to regulate as employee achievements and proper guidance have a greater chance of being overlooked. With the togetherness that exists in an office, organizational culture can be managed well.

Offices provide several benefits that are harder to experience when working at home. This setting keeps the human element intact while supporting productivity and unity, ensuring that employees are set up for success. Although there are signs of remote work continuing in the future, reasoning highlights why offices should be at least a partial location for employees to advance a company. To read the full article, click here.