The rise of flexible working in recent years has led businesses to re-examine the purpose of their office space. Hybrid-working models along with advancements in technology means that the office is no longer the only place an employee can carry out sufficient work. Digital nomads have proven that successful work can happen in any environment, time zone or space. As a result, businesses know that whether they operate an in-office or hybrid working approach, the space they provide must be a value add in the business offering of attracting talent. Their office must be core to their culture, core to their function and core to their business identity.
In a world where flexibility is becoming more prevalent than ever, the question remains – how can the office still offer value to businesses and their employees? We spoke to three members of Iconic Offices, Ireland’s leading flexible workspace provider, to understand how they have adapted their workspace to suit their needs.
One of the key reasons that the office still holds significant value for employees is for the social component that it adds to their lives. We spend one third of our lives working so it’s no surprise that maintaining regular social interaction during the workday is something that employees continuously list as a high priority when it comes to their workspace. According to a 2023 study by Forbes, 53% of remote workers find it difficult to feel connected to their co-workers when working from home. In recent years, many SME’s have abandoned large, unused office space in favour of flexible workspaces and coworking memberships in order to work in an environment that prioritises community and encourages collaboration.
Since 2020, there has been a 158% increase in coworking spaces around the world. Conor Moore, Senior Creative of Naama Studios, revealed that “only seeing people on Zoom for a meeting meant I missed social interaction with people in real life.” Conor decided to trade in his work-from-home set up for a coworking membership in The Greenway to work in a space that enriched his creative pursuits. “It’s the perfect blend for somewhere to concentrate on your work and collaborate and meet with new people.” While many aspects of the traditional office set up have changed in recent years, the social element of the office is one of the few components that remains irreplaceable. The sense of belonging employees experience from working in a shared space is key to fostering strong company culture, which is integral to collaborative working. In no other space do team members have the opportunity to speak casually with peers and superiors. These interactions allow them to share knowledge and establish genuine connections with their colleagues.
One challenge that employers face when attempting to entice employees back to the office is the office space itself: how it functions and where it’s located. Many remote workers have carefully crafted home offices that are tailor-made to their needs. For companies to compete, they need to offer comfort, convenience and more. Workspaces need to be easily accessible as well as inspiring and productive places to work. The way we operate has changed and workspaces need to accommodate multiple ways of working and interacting, both for on-site and off-site employees. To cater towards the growing need for video calls, many flexible workspace providers offer a variety of breakout spaces, phone booths and meeting rooms. While businesses are given the freedom to customise their office in a way that caters to their company’s specific needs, having breakout spaces away from the office desk grants employees a diverse and varied environment to work in.
Employers must also recognise that they are competing with a crucial work-from-home benefit – a non-existent commute. A 2021 survey found that 34% of jobseekers would turn down a job offer because of the associated commute. An office space that is easily accessible and in an amenity rich location is a pivotal factor in attracting and retaining employees. Derek Corcoran, CEO of Scorebuddy, has been working with his team at Iconic’s Thomas Street location, The Masonry, since 2019. Derek notes, “Having a comfortable working environment in such a central location is key to how we collaborate—the building itself has everything the team needs to get creative and do exciting work.” While it is integral to a business’s function to provide an office that supports successful work, the importance of the location of said office is a factor that simply cannot be overlooked.
While many corporations are attempting to transition employees back to the office full time, flexible working is here to stay. In fact, flexibility is a key factor in how office space is maintaining its relevance in the current landscape of work. We know that flexible working caters to an over-arching demand for better work-life balance among employees. However, many business leaders are also recognising how flexibility can benefit the longevity of their businesses. Flexible workspaces provide companies with shorter, low-risk contracts allowing employers the time they need to adapt quickly to changing conditions. The plug-and-play structure of flexible workspaces means that companies no longer need to spend excess time and money fitting out large offices only to outgrow the space in a year.
Aislinn O’Toole, Managing Director of Jellyfish Ireland, understands the importance of having the space for your company to grow. In the past year, Aislinn moved her team from The Greenway on Stephen’s Green to their own private office in The Lennox Building and has plans to upscale in the coming years. While scouting out potential new spaces, she was able to utilise coworking memberships for her new team members allowing them to maintain their work location. She shares, “Knowing that Iconic has so many locations across Dublin gives me peace of mind that when the team grows again, we will be able to do so with Iconic.”
In reality, the office as we know it today has been slowly evolving over the last number of years, reinventing itself in response to the workforce’s changing needs. Gone are the days of small cubicles and grey walls. Today, you will rarely find two offices that look the same. In the modern working world, the space fits the company, rather than the company fitting itself into a space. Offices are reimagined, customised, and carefully curated to encapsulate exactly what the modern employee needs. The office’s sense of community, its location, and its flexibility are all factors that contribute to the employee experience, ultimately shaping how your employees perceive its value. In short, for the office to remain relevant to employees and employers alike, it must offer an experience that they cannot get anywhere else.
Hear more from our members and learn how you can make your workspace Iconic here