Ahead of the release of the detailed findings of the Office Fit survey, we hosted a panel discussion on the Future of Work to understand what lies ahead for hybrid working. Moderated by Richard Paul, Head of Professional Services and Consultancy, Savills Middle East, the discussion unearthed insights from Christopher Payne, Chief Economist, Peninsula Real Estate Management; Ben Corrigan, CEO and Founder, Bluehaus Group; Nadimeh Mehra, Vice President, District 2020; Julien Romanet, Deputy Head of Global RE, Gulf Islamic Investments and Steven Morgan, CEO Middle East, Savills.

Here are some of the key takeaways that emerged during the discussion:

The office remains vital for culture, collisions and career progression:

The pandemic showed us that, supported by technology, working from home or outside of the traditional office can be successful. However, to foster the organisation’s culture over the longer term, human interaction is essential. Offices enable spontaneous discussions or collisions that enable employees to learn, grow and generate ideas and strategies together. On an individual level, the opportunity for career growth and enhancement is more visible in the office rather than at home, with the former providing a ready setting for quick catch-ups, informal lunchtime discussions or workshops.

There is an increased focus on people and social interactions:

People want a sense of community, even in the workplace. The idea behind some of the future-ready communities such as District 2020 is to give occupiers easy access to the residences, offices, schools, retail, F&B and wellness, complete with digital integration. 

Overall, there is a growing preference for a workplace that is agile and hybrid. Companies should therefore work to create a setting that provides employees with different micro-environments which promote collaboration and engagement, but also dedicated spaces for them to focus.  

Covid has driven design shifts and opened minds:

Even before the pandemic, experts had started to recommend changes to workplace design to accommodate flexible and hybrid working patterns to make the office “a destination, not an obligation,” as Ben Corrigan highlighted. A move towards this has now been accelerated. Some sectors such as legal, finance and investment, who were earlier in favour of a more traditional office, are now more open to recommendations about what the workplace of the future should look like.   

ESG and sustainability are taking centre stage:

Issues such as sustainability are increasingly gaining focus and demanding attention. The younger generation especially that is entering the workforce feels strongly about protecting our planet and wishes to associate with companies who share their vision. Even from an investment perspective, global investors are seriously considering the sustainability aspect of the assets in which they invest to ensure they are relevant and compliant in the years to come.

Time will tell if we are in a new normal or if we will revert to the old:

It remains to be seen if the world returns to working from the office full-time or if hybrid working is here to stay. An accurate picture will likely emerge when companies adopting different styles and workplace practices are assessed over a few years on parameters such as performance and profitability, productivity and employee satisfaction which will then help establish the ‘normal’. In any case, companies have started to think about providing employees a space where they are motivated to come, work and feel fulfilled, personally and professionally. 

To watch the full recording of the Livestream please click here.