There’s no denying that the workplace has changed a lot over the past two years.

For some, the pandemic has meant trying to crack on by doubling up screens at the kitchen table whilst our partner takes their turn in schooling the kids from home. For others, it’s been going into largely empty workplaces and adhering to necessary but uncomfortable lockdown rules.

But now that the return to work is picking up some real momentum, one question on everyone’s lips is what have we learned about the workplace from all of this?

The demands and expectations of the workplace have shifted dramatically over the last two years.

Gone are the days of cold open plan offices or closed communications. Thank Goodness.

Businesses are going the extra mile to encourage employers back into the office, so the workplace is no longer a routine-based space. The advance of hybrid work means that offices must become “destination spaces”.

So What Do Workers Want from their Improved Workspaces?

Collaboration area in a modern office design

An European-wide survey found that people still want and need a dedicated workspace; at the same time a recent study by Gensler found that 67% of the British workforce feel drained at the end of the day due to their current office environment.

So how can we balance the requirement for a dedicated workplace with our need for a relief from the stresses of everyday life?

Absolute Commercial Interiors have come up with 3 key elements that shouldn’t be overlooked if you are looking to create a sanctuary within your workplace:

1. Encouraging Wellbeing

Often, we are so focused on business that we neglect to make ourselves comfortable.

Many of us also forget that the wellbeing of employees is at the heart of a healthy company culture.

Encouraging the team to express their worries and building trust is the first step when looking to create a sanctuary within your workplace.

Creating quiet retreats within the office and adding biophilic features will promote mental health and help build a slice of serenity in the midst of a fast-paced, ever-changing world.

2.Zoning

A study by Gartner Group, a global technology research firm, found that employees are now spending only 40% of their time at their allocated desks.

The best working environments offer a mix of work, interaction and relaxation.

Businesses need to offer their workforce some element of “control” over their surroundings; a place that they can call a sanctuary. This means quiet spaces when people want to retreat and social spaces when they want to connect.

Different zones are essential when catering to different tasks and personalities.

3. Comfy Furniture Pieces

Social area with comfortable furniture in a modern office

A key trend at the moment is a softening of office furnishing, fixtures and fittings.

This doesn’t mean a forced or contrived domestication, but rather a greater emphasis on more comfortable and relaxed settings.

When it comes to the furniture, rather than rigid and upright pieces, cushioned armchairs and banquettes provide a more relaxed atmosphere, leading to freer thinking.

Softer and more textured natural materials can be another answer.

And to help encourage both collaboration and relaxation, could some comfy sofas in a quiet corner with a lot of natural light do the job?

Ultimately, the concept of the office sanctuary is far less extravagant than some would think.

Supporting sanctuaries does not require a complete office overhaul.

Small, but impactful changes might be just what it takes to provide your employees with a setting that will encourage them to feel their best, every day of the week.