The COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge struggle for numerous entrepreneurs across the globe. While in some countries the governments were rather reluctant to introduce strict measures, there are also many places that had to submit to total lockdowns. This led to the complete shift in the operation of offices. As a result, many companies decided to implement remote work, and some had to reduce the number of employees. Is reducing the size of the office really necessary? What can we do to make it more efficient?
The situation on the market
With tens of millions of people losing their jobs all over the world in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to one of the biggest economic crises in world history. Although some effects of lockdowns, e.g., massive loss in productivity and incomes are already visible, we may expect that these detrimental consequences will still progress in the forthcoming months. These changes have forced many employers to change the way their companies operate on a daily basis. On the one hand, we can observe business struggling with inevitable employees displacements and many responsible employers deciding to introduce remote work to protect employees against possible infection on the other.
Reasons for reducing your office space
To survive on the market, many business owners need to adapt to the current market conditions. For many companies based on office work, changes may include reducing the size of the office. This solution seems to be evident in the case of companies that had to undergo downsizing. This can also bring many benefits to businesses that managed to keep their employment rate. Choosing a smaller space is cost-effective, yet it can lead to some problems connected with the availability of free space. This combined with the restrictions in place can cause several hard-to-solve problems, e.g., how to organise space. However, there are some solutions that can help you redesign your office – a desk booking app, which can help your employees keep the required distance from each other.
How to reduce office space efficiently?
If you are still wondering how to move to a smaller office without detriment to you, your company and your employees, check out the following tips!
#1: Think it through
Changing your office should never be a spontaneous decision. Before making the final decision, focus on your needs. Take into consideration how many employees we work in the office as well as how much space you need for furniture and equipment. If you have some special requirements that are necessary for your business to operate efficiently, e.g., a conference room, make sure you will be able to use them.
#2: Don’t forget about your employees
A small office should be arranged in a smart way to give your employees all they need. If the space is too small, they may feel cornered by colleagues. The lack of privacy will surely affect the productivity and it can also worsen the atmosphere in the workplace.
#3: Provide your workers with flexibility
If your employees used to work in teams or cooperate one with another, allow them to change places so that they can sit close to their teammates. If you don’t want to create new seating arrangements every day and want to avoid conflicts among employees, opt for a desk reservation app.
#4: Choose remote work
Thanks to remote work you can easily limit the number of employees who need to physically be present at work. If you want to keep an eye on all your employees, divide them into groups that are present on site interchangeably.
#5: React
Moving to a smaller office doesn’t mean that you don’t have to care for your employees’ health. The coronavirus is still with us so you need to stay alert. Here a desk booking software might also come in handy as it can help you control the traffic in the office and keep an attendance list.
Don’t know where to start?
Start with us! Choose a desk-booking app with a simple, yet powerful interface. We can help you find an optimal configuration for your office. Booking a desk should be nothing but a single click! Get familiar with Deski – a desktop and mobile app with real-time reservations. Set your own reservation rules and separate office space – it’s all up to you! If you have any questions about our hot-desking solution, let us know!