Getting back to the office
Most organizations already allowed people to work from home.
But they are concerned about a range of issues, mainly their health and safety.
COVID-19 has upended the world of work. Offices are closed as people all over the world work from home. To learn how we can help organizations return to work safely and effectively, we asked our clients about:
• Working remotely
• Getting back to the office
• The workplace of the future
Here is a summary of what they told us.
Mostly because they miss their colleagues.
Just how much do organizations think remote work will grow? Survey respondents thought that the number of employees working at home 2-3 days per week will double after the pandemic.
Whatever the future of workplace brings, things aren’t likely to go back to the way they were.
Changes will be many, and although people yearn for in-person collaboration, there will likely be fewer people around at the office.
In April 2020, the Stantec Workplace Transformation Survey was sent to over 130 clients and received complete responses from 96 representing a diverse cross section of industries including banking, legal services, real estate services, the technology sector, healthcare, energy industries, and government entities. Responses came from all regions in North America, with 48% of the companies represented having over 1,000 employees. Survey respondent roles ranged from executive/c-suite to managers in sales, marketing and communications, facilities and project management, and other administrative functions.
Survey results
Read Getting Back to Business, Stantec’s Workplace Transformation Guidebook with recommendations based on these survey results.
About The Survey
Access to equipment, technology
Face-to-face collaboration
Getting out of the house
Social connections
What will change most in the future workplace as result of stay-at-home restrictions?
A temporary adjustment has increased acceptance and frequency for work from home.
Learn how we can help you put these survey results into action in our Workplace Transformation Guidebook.
About The Survey
Working remotely
“We are remote work capable. Having an office is a culture choice rather than a necessity. We need to decide going forward how important that office is to our culture .”
Before COVID
Do your employees look forward to being back in the office?
73% yes
27% no
89% yes
11% no
Coming back to the workplace
“I believe the workplace will need to adjust to maintain business continuity but allow freedom of choice/posture in the workplace. People may continue to work from home from time-to-time.”
Collaboration, belonging, and brand will draw us back to the office.
What do your employees miss about the workplace?
Sanitation of the workplace surfaces
Safety and security
Childcare if schools are still out of session
Proximity to other people
What are the top 3 concerns your organization has about employees coming back to the workplace?
Modifying internal work policies
Supporting employee health
Communication of changes in physical workplace
Continuity of business operations
Other
Communication of changes in protocols
And because they benefit from working together in-person.
5
Amenities (such as fitness center or prayer room)
4
Face-to-face management of staff
3
Dedicated desk away from home distractions
2
Face-to-face meetings
1
Collaboration
Future of workplace
“We anticipate sharing desks and allowing people to sign up for desks on the same days they want to physically meet with certain people. We will also need to upgrade the AV in meeting spaces to better connect employees outside of the office.”
Safety, sanitation and choice will characterize a less-densely occupied office.
Will temporary working from home have a lasting or short-term impact on the workplace?
81% lasting
short-term 19%
Indoor air quality
Wider circulation paths
Fewer assigned spaces, more choice
HR protocols for remote work
Office configurations
Nightly deep sanitation
Staggered in-office days
Six-foot distances between people
Safety & wellness
Number of people in office full time
Unlimited sick day policies
More assigned spaces
Smart office technology
In-office health clinic
Unassigned private offices
Assigned private offices
None of these
Larger workstation footprint
Guest meeting rooms
HEPA filtration systems
Higher workstation panels
Policies limiting outside guests
Unlimited work from home policies
Automatic doors
Less travel for employees
Sanitation stations
And finally, many long-term solutions focus on improved health and safety in the workplace.
What long-term solution is your organization considering to these workplace impacts?
Clearly, 2020 has been a transformational year and we’ve only begun to understand the long-term impact of the pandemic on the workplace. Although we don’t yet have all the answers, we know a new office will emerge.
Learn how we can help you put these survey results into action in our Workplace Transformation Guidebook.
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1
2
3
4
5
Before COVID
After COVID
How often did employees work from home pre-pandemic?
Most people want to get back to the office.
After COVID
87% yes
14% no
And not surprisingly, working remotely will only increase after the pandemic.
73%
63%
24%
24%
Days per Week
22%
9%
34%
18%
27.8%
44%
8%
21%
2.8%
4%
2.4%
0%
Highest ranked in-office "perks"