The Covid 19 pandemic has changed the working and housing situation of many people, but what next? Will everyone return to their regular workplaces? What will the office of the future look like?
The Corona pandemic has changed the everyday working life of many employees and employers. In spring 2020, most people were suddenly asked to work from home. This change was a challenge for many. Companies had to quickly rethink and reorganise their processes and communication channels. Employees had to ask themselves: Where in my home should I work? Can I work from the kitchen or living room table? Will this be a long or short-term situation? Little did one know that home would so quickly become an officially recognized workplace.
In a comprehensive study, Engel & Völkers Luxembourg surveyed almost 200 of its clients on this topic and came to some clear results. More than 96% of the respondents assume that working from home will stay a recognized and accepted concept in the future.
Apart from the 28.9% of respondents who already had an established workspace at home, 39% have set up a permanent workspace during the last year. This means that they do not work from the kitchen or dining table, but have actually created a separate space where they can leave their work materials.
For more than 56% of the respondents, the new working conditions have changed their needs in terms of space at home. When looking at buying or renting a property, this is now taken into consideration. At property viewings, the new topic of conversation is floor plans that can integrate a study where one can work in peace. "It is not only the number of bedrooms that interests our clients today, but also additional space for a desk - be it a separate room, a larger living room or bedroom in which a work niche can be integrated," reports Philipp Niemann, Managing Director of Engel & Völkers Luxembourg.
Before the pandemic, work was usually spatially separated from people's private lives. With the pandemic, this had to change, and especially for people working in an office environment. Many were asked to take their work home. Now, living and working take place together. Childcare is suddenly possible on the side and superiors are more tolerant and understanding of flexible working hours.
The advantages of the current work model suggest that the home office trend will continue as expected by the respondents. Time management plays the biggest role. A long commute to work every morning is no longer necessary and coordinating childcare is no longer a problem.
Many companies and employees were already optimally equipped. Smartphones are considered standard equipment in almost every company and laptops were quickly obtained, and due to broad Internet coverage everywhere in the country, they can be used anywhere. In the end, working from home is not too painful and employees are mostly satisfied.
Étude Engel & Völker Luxembourg: tendences télétravail
Étude Engel & Völker Luxembourg: tendences télétravail
Étude Engel & Völkers Luxembourg: tendances télétravail
Étude Engel & Völkers Luxembourg: tendances télétravail
However, with this new trend comes new questions and challenges for companies, for instance: Who should pay for internet, electricity, and work equipment in the home office? Contracts will need to be adapted to provide answers to such questions.
The new working situation is also causing a shake-up in terms of existing office space. The commercial real estate entity of Engel & Völkers reports of clients who are increasingly inclined towards a more creative use of commercial space. Spaces that provide "multiple-use" options are sought after to guarantee a more efficient use of the space. The Engel & Völkers headquarters in Hamburg thought ahead years ago and established a huge open workspace.
Engel & Völkers Headquarter
Engel & Völkers Headquarter
Engel & Völkers Headquarter
The trend for open workspaces originated in the tech industry. Today, flexible working systems are gaining popularity in every industry. Large open areas with shared desks, more meeting rooms, and a few comfortable corners, is the office of the future. Companies have understood that you shouldn't just be able to take your work home, but you should also be able to take your home to the office. According to current work ethics, children and pets can be taken along and private conversations are possible during working hours. For this, places to retreat must be created in the offices and the workspaces of the future.
Changes are good and are an integral part of human development. Work is now integrated in peoples’ homes and vice-versa. Employees do not want to be deprived of the freedoms they gained in the last months, and employers have noticed that the new and flexible working model can be an efficient practice. Welcome to the working and living world of the 21st century!
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Engel & Völkers
Licence Partner Luxembourg
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4, Place Joseph ThornL-2637 LuxembourgLuxembourg
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Phone +352 28 26 17 27
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