About The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
For many employees who worked from home during the pandemic, returning to the office is not about sitting at their desk.
It’s about the interpersonal contact with colleagues that can lead to new ideas and insights—things not likely to happen in a video conference.
As vaccinations increase, coronavirus restrictions lift, and more people return to the office, a new LinkedIn survey shows that a majority of employees are looking forward to engaging with their co-workers.
The survey of more than 4,300 people was conducted from May 22 to June 4 as COVID restrictions were slowly rolling back.
Productivity Impact
Only 26% of people fully working remotely for the past year expect a productivity impact from a return to the workplace, the survey shows.
But 51% who worked partially from home and in the office for the last year say a full-time return to the office will help them do more focused work, while 65% of those who never left the workplace are optimistic about everyone returning, the survey shows.
CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima says Connecticut employers are eager to get their staff back in the office because they know better things happen when people are in the same space.
“Overall, human beings crave interpersonal relationships and the ability to have those relationships occur in person drives and strengthens social bonds that are critical in order to have a high-functioning team,” he said.
“The collaboration that occurs in person is more natural because you can voice thoughts, ideas, and opinions very easily versus the clumsiness of talking over each other during a video conference or waiting to speak, only to have the meeting leader turn to another topic.”
Sometimes, he said, this positive body language and expression can drive higher levels of collaboration.
Innovation and Relationships
Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are most upbeat about having everyone in the same room for a meeting, while millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) are most eager to enjoy workplace perks and see the return to work as valuable in advancing their careers, according to the survey.
Among other findings are that 25% of respondents say dressing for work is a positive, but 32% would prefer to remain in loungewear.
What’s missing for many remote workers is what’s known as the workplace value proposition—the organizational culture and benefits, interacting with colleagues on site—the “why we come to the workplace.”
“Higher levels of collaboration drive higher levels of innovation as the collective team feeds off of ideas and energy, which results in better problem solving and solutions,” DiPentima said.
“And this happens beyond the conference room as collaboration physically takes place in all areas of the office space, including at the water cooler, and other areas where meetings are not planned but where natural interactions occur.”
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, employers want their staff back in the office because they believe productivity increases for some roles, and it allows executives and managers to better assess performance.
SHRM also notes that interacting in person helps employees foster relationships with co-workers, build trust, collaborate more effectively, and advance within the organization, which drives worker productivity and morale.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the CBIA website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
For many people, much of the workday takes place in front of the computer. In fact, 81% of office workers spend between four and nine hours a day sitting at their desks. This adds up to 67 sedentary days annually, according to a survey released by office equipment firm Fellowes. Unfortunately, sitting for too long can increase your risk of chronic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Whether you’re making a return to the office or continuing to work from home, now is a great time to assess your workspace and put any damaging habits you formed during the pandemic in check.
Perfect Your Posture
Good posture is about much more than just sitting up straight. The term actually refers to the way you hold your body while you sit, stand, or lie down. However, anyone who has ever worked in an office is well aware that it’s the way we sit that tends to create problems.
Keeping your feet flat and positioning your hips slightly above the knees will support the spine and the rest of the upper body, including your head. As a result, your joints are protected as you type, answer the phone, or perform other tasks at your desk. Practicing good posture at your desk is also an important component of body language, since it can impact your confidence and shape how you are perceived by others.
Setup for Success
It can be tempting to slump over in your favorite comfy chair, especially if you’re working from home. However, it’s doing you no favors when it comes to helping your back health, and the same goes for choosing a stylish chair that doesn’t provide a suitable level of support. Like many things, chairs and desks are not one-size-fits-all; the ideal seat depth and width vary by person, and the height of your desk should allow your arms and wrists to sit in the correct position, forming a right angle. Some people find footrests, seat cushions, and monitor stands to be tremendously helpful when customizing their setups to best fit their bodies. Clearly, employees see high-quality setups as an indicator that their employer is willing to invest in them. The same Fellowes study previously mentioned found that 85% of those surveyed said providing better ergonomic equipment would help show their employer cared.
Eyes on the Prize
It’s not just your back that needs to be cared for while you work. Spending so much time at your computer can be harmful to your eyes for a variety of reasons. Excessive blue light waves can cause vision problems and disrupt sleep and sitting too close to the computer screen can strain the eyes. Make sure you’re sitting at least 20 inches away from the computer screen, and practice the 20-20-20 rule, where you make sure to look 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes to reduce eye strain. Also, blue light blocking glasses have special lenses that lower your exposure to harm. There are many different options to choose from, ranging from inexpensive picks to stylish designer brands.
Keep it Moving
It’s no secret that sitting all day long at a desk without taking any breaks can be hazardous to your health. In fact, the CDC states that taking a break to stand frequently throughout the day can have significant benefits. Many people choose accessories like sit-to-stand desks, elevated monitor stands, and under-desk pedal exercisers that encourage small habits to improve circulation throughout the workday. That said, it’s not mandatory that you purchase fancy equipment to stay healthy at your desk. There are many stretches you can do without breaking a sweat that help to prevent aches and pains and stay limber. Take a look at short videos like this one that offer easy movements you can do while sitting in your chair or during a quick break. If desk yoga isn’t your thing, simply take a break and go for a walk around the block. With the summer weather ahead, a little extra sunshine and fresh air can make a serious difference.
Often, we think of employee wellness as being group fitness classes or healthy snacks in the break room. But with so much of our day spent at a desk, even tiny changes you implement into your regimen go a long way when it comes to positively affecting happiness and health in the long run.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the CRESA website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
In the past, when meeting with current or prospective clients, we did not often rely on data as a primary talking point. After all, these conversations instead solely revolved around the proposed execution of transactions, the vast reach of the firm, or market-specific strategies. But while those topics are undoubtedly important and will continue to remain key points of emphasis, in recent years we’ve seen the shift of how data tends to peek its nerdy little head into the conversation as well. Real estate portfolios are rich in data, and we are beginning to lean on this information to formulate strategic decisions more than ever.
Data in the Present Day
We need to be smarter about understanding the different types of data we have access to and what it can tell us. Publicly available data sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau can help us gain a better understanding around labor and population trends. We can also tap into internal resources like integrated workplace management systems, HR software, badge readers and employee surveys, and draw insights into who sits where, for how long and what their expectation is for returning to the office. Is your space big enough? Is it too big? Is the layout working for your employees? Are your employees traveling too far to the office? What does the headcount growth forecast look like and how will it affect my office requirements? What would a hybrid work model look like? These are questions we can answer using quality resources that produce reliable data.
Lease-related data like critical dates and upcoming lease expirations can help us have proactive discussions with our clients about their future and how using occupancy and HR data can help fortify those decisions. Occupancy data driven through workplace software and badge readers can tell the story of attendance trends and popular seating or collaboration areas. From an employee growth standpoint, HR data can assist our planning needs and equip us with data points regarding where our employees are commuting from and if the location is working for the team and key stakeholders. As we plan to transition back into the office post-COVID, extracting and analyzing the right data from internal and external resources will be extremely important in building the right strategies to retain current employees and attract new talent.
We Have the Data, Now What?
Collecting data is crucial, but continuing to track, interpret and analyze that data is just as significant. By collecting data frequently, findings become more compelling, and help to determine trends that will indicate what the future holds. It is a practice in being more proactive and educated. Some companies rely on complex modeling and trend analysis to get a better understanding of “What’s happening today?” and “What does the future hold?”. Others go a little further and leverage business intelligence technologies and geospatial platforms to comprehend their real estate landscape at both macro and micro levels. These models and types of software enable the data to tell the story of where we are and how we can be successful going forward, particularly regarding the return to office.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the CRESA website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
What will business as usual look like in the post-pandemic office? Will some of us continue to use our private spaces as workspaces? Do we need to be in the same place as our colleagues to take advantage of the creative frictions that physical colocation is known to encourage? Or can we get by with a curated combination of remote work and in-person work, as the popularity of hybrid arrangements suggests?
Prioritizing Human Connection
In the January 2021 report “Shaping the Future of Work for a Better World,” global commercial real estate company JLL predicted that accelerated digital workplace transformation, coupled with an emphasis on the worker, will “address both the rising expectations of the workforce and the growing importance of human connection.” Future workspaces will need to be more flexible, less centralized, and more people-centric to both attract and retain the best talent while ensuring that these workers are energized and creative both when working remotely and in person.
In fact, in conversations about what we’ve missed most about the offices we left behind last year, a persistent theme has emerged: We’ve missed our colleagues. We miss the opportunities for chance interactions with people we know well and those from other teams we may know less well.
Especially for people new to a company, the ability to network and connect in person is critical to building what Mark Granovetter, a sociology professor at Stanford University, identified in 1973 as weak ties — those casual acquaintances who move us outside our established and familiar “strong tie” networks. Weak ties offer us the opportunity to learn and expand, and in fact most people learn about and get their next job through such connections.
Reshaping Boundaries
Physical boundaries between work and domestic life have shifted radically for many; so too has our perception of what’s needed for productivity and collaboration, as has the meaning of “the office” itself. These shifts necessitate a rethinking of what kinds of activities are most suited to colocation and which ones are best left to more private venues, whether a home office or a third space. A simple reset to pre-pandemic policies based on outmoded notions of face time and presentism are no longer assumed nor, in many cases, desired or sustainable.
The time has come for more nuanced approaches to workplaces as ecosystems rather than discrete physical locations. We need to be asking ourselves and, more important, asking our employees what kinds of experiences benefit from what kind of spaces — a question that can no longer be treated as though “one size fits all.”
The process of reimagining office spaces introduces critical, overarching questions: How will our imaginations around the concept of workspaces and the evolving use of technology support our work practices? What do today’s transformations suggest about what it means to be human at work?
Within this flux, one fact remains: People are social animals. Personality traits of introversion or extroversion aside, people need people. Advances in digital tools as intermediaries for enabling connection are not enough. Serendipity, while not a new concept in workplace architectural design and planning, will become a more pressing one as hybrid approaches limit workers’ opportunities for in-person interactions. Leaders will need to anticipate and shape the kinds of social moments that enable richer, more meaningful human connections in our offices and work lives.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
Most of us understand that work-life balance is an important aspect of a healthy work environment. But now, more than ever, we need to openly discuss what work-life balance really is, what it means for different people, and the best strategies for obtaining it.
What is Work-Life Balance?
Let’s start with the basics. Work-life balance can be described as a state of equilibrium. It’s the equal prioritization of personal and professional demands. When work-life balance is off, the two states tend to bleed together, and people find themselves focusing on job demands when they should be present in the home. Whether it’s a busy parent attempting to help their kids with remote learning while also taking business calls or finding yourself answering work emails in the middle of the night, many people have found themselves pulled in unhealthy directions.
Why it’s Important
There are endless studies emphasizing the important role that work-life balance plays in one’s life. One of the most obvious reasons for this is the improvement in relationships, both at home and in the office. But it also boosts productivity and performance in both situations because the person is able to fully engage with their responsibilities. There is also significant research that shows a successful work/life balance improves physical health, preventing everything from the flu to heart problems. Employees that have the time and space to practice mindfulness will be able to reduce stress and prevent burnout by being able to focus on the task at hand. No matter their work style, flexibility gives employees the autonomy they need to function best. After all, not everyone operates the same way nor are any two home lives the same. Whether they’re Baby Boomers, Gen Zers fresh from college, or anywhere in between, everyone appreciates a flexible schedule.
How Organizations Can Achieve Work-Life Balance
1. Autonomy & Flexibility In order for team members to achieve a sense of work-life balance, employers need to provide them with a sense of autonomy. According to a survey of 3,500 employees conducted by Sage, 81% of respondents placed importance and value on flexible working, because they want to be trusted to manage when, where and how they work.
2. Amenities For employees that do come to a physical workplace, providing onsite amenities, ranging from gym and meditation facilities to healthy foods, are amazing resources for teams. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle are essential for alleviating stress, and many team members rely on these perks to maintain their well-being, especially when they are taking the time to commute to an office.
3. (Really Good) Benefits Another important factor in achieving work-life balance is providing extraordinary benefits – not just the standard offerings. It’s no secret that health insurance is incredibly expensive, as is childcare. Company paid services like these, as well as tuition assistance and longer paid maternity and paternity leaves, serve as important indicators of how companies value their team members while also contributing to a healthy work-life balance.
4. People and Culture Additionally, we have to remember that the people you hire create your company’s environment. That’s why it’s so important that team members are a good fit for the culture and type of company that you want to build and grow. Naturally, this means some existing employees who demonstrate toxic behaviors might need to be let go. While making these choices is tough, they’re extremely necessary if you want to cultivate an environment where people can thrive.
5. Lead by Example The way those in leadership and managerial roles lead their organization is a direct indicator of work/life balance too. Through leading by example and demonstrating a strong sense of empathy and practicing a healthy work-life balance themselves, team members will understand the type of culture you promote and support in your workplace. This allows them to go forward and practice those same principles in all their affairs, and in turn hopefully find a healthy work-life balance for themselves.
By coming together and finding ways to support work-life balance for your organization, you’re able to dedicate your focus on your company’s bright future and with limited employee turnover along the way.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the CRESA website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.5 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company 