We look at three different factors driving people out of the office and into flexible workspaces, the type with a luxury yoga studio and ergonomic office furniture….
Engagement
The phrase ‘company culture’ has always plagued workplaces. So when the pandemic hit, some jumped for joy at the idea of sitting at home, secluded and un-bothered by their work colleagues. Others, reminisced on Friday drinks, connection to company purpose and a sense of social connection (we’re talking about the social butterflies of the office).
The increased pressure on leaders in the workplace to continue fostering engagement has created an artificial sense of culture, Friday drinks turned into ‘Zoom’ drinks and team-building sessions consisted of more screen time. After numerous lockdowns and an ensemble of tracksuits and ugg boots, employees are unable to surpass the flexibility they find in their home office to the Friday drinks they attended once a week.
Among a Forbes article, the question “How can you live your culture, when you don’t live in your culture?” was asked.
Noticing the struggle that many leaders are faced with in creating a company culture in a ‘hybrid workplace’ FLEX focuses’ its co-working space around one word the pandemic tore apart: connection.
FLEX drives a sense of engagement and culture by forging relationships with other members through networking events, industry seminars and the diverse environment within a co-working space. Instead of artificially creating culture through involuntary team building or ‘Zoom drinks’ FLEX has identified that people’s willingness to engage rises when you create an environment they choose to work from.
A Harvard Business Review noted the trend of large-scale companies adopting co-working spaces into their business strategies. This strategy was introduced in a bid to enhance engagement and essentially build community beyond work meetings. The opportunities for employees to choose when and how they interact with others are not only beneficial for the business’ brand but also for employee job satisfaction levels.
Forecasting
Aside from the pressure of adapting your business to the new definition of ‘workplace’ in this post-covid era, the process of forecasting ongoing costs such as utilities and labour can cost equal parts in time than it does in money. Not to mention, living in the 21st century where technology and appliances are updated, disposed of, and broken as frequently as a Kardashian relationship, how on earth are businesses meant to budget these unforeseen costs?
The answer – FLEX. Although we don’t give you money, we certainly save you some (and many grey hairs) by taking the stress away with one flat inclusive monthly charge. We remove the need for office chairs, printers, utility costs, council rates…you get the point! As far as forecasting the success of your business, it’s simply inhumane to forecast when you’ll be on that Forbes list and suddenly require more desks, office space and office maintenance. Forget finding commercial leases, moving trucks, or servicing the coffee machine. At FLEX it’s our duty and your office luxury.
Productivity
You know when you wake up in the night and have that lightbulb idea at 3am on a Tuesday night? We think it’s highly bizarre and rude that our brain interrupted our beauty sleep. For this, we have the 9-5 mindset to blame, a 19th-century model that forgot to remind us that we may produce our best work at 3am, 7am or 8pm. Knowing this, why are we restricting our brains to a routine that became so familiar, Dolly Parton made it into a song?!
Unfortunately, the solution is not to work until 3am and sleep at the office, the solution is to find a place that caters to your ticking brain and creative thinking – at all hours. FLEX delivers a workspace with 24/7 access & cutting-edge facilities including a gym, yoga studio and end-of-trip amenities.
The workforce of the future (and even the present) wants to avoid the 9-5 model, FLEX facilitates this change for employees and business owners. Those who allow themselves to work on-demand or when inspired shouldn’t be made to feel pushed into a routine. As for our creativity, our brain also shouldn’t come with a sign that lists its operating hours. Due to increased independence and a sense of freedom to build work around their needs, employees respond well to this work model as they’re no longer being forced to control their creativity. FLEX has incorporated its space to create a workforce of the future, not a model that’s two decades old.
With the temptations of organised engagement, organic company culture and the freedom to work when and how we want, more and more traditionalists are making the move to FLEX. As humans evolve, so do our workplaces and it’s important we adapt to the needs of our minds, business, and creativity.
