Wellness and happiness to shape up future workplaces, says expert


CRTKL, an architecture, planning and design specialist, outlined the future of the workplace and hybrid work in a forecast on homes and hotels for 2022. As per the report, wellness and happiness will be top of the corporate agenda in future workplaces.

CRTKL, a global cultural agency specialising in architecture, planning and design, details the future of the workplace and hybrid work in a forecast report with businesses taking lessons from both home and hotels in 2022.
 
According to the report, when it comes to the workplaces of the future, wellness and happiness will be top of the corporate agenda. 
 
As the ‘Great Resignation’ takes fold, with the retention and attraction of talent more competitive than ever, these aspects are now becoming non-negotiable, stated the report. 
 
The Global Microsoft Work Trend Index 2021 revealed that more than 40% of the global workforce is considering leaving their employer this year. Corporate culture must be derived from something greater than employee proximity and instead tap into the five pillars of Meaning, Vitality, Freedom, Engagement and Delight. 
 
Prodipto Ghosh, Principal at CRTKL, said: "The workplace and the world of working has changed with well-being and happiness the number one priority for businesses. Redesigned physical infrastructure supports new ways of working, empowering people to choose how and where they work as the office becomes a flexible corporate asset to retain talent."
 
"At CRTKL, we want to spark inspiration and enrich the workplace environment, keeping employees happy throughout the day. We advocate a hybrid, flexible concept to promote work from anywhere to attract and retain talent in this competitive applicant’s market," he added. 
 
Work From Anywhere
 
"Whether in the gym, café, car, bar, beach or other – people want autonomy over how, when, and where they work," stated Ghosh. 
 
"The UAE is a pioneer in the WFA landscape and took the third spot in the Mena region and 41st worldwide, ahead of France, New Zealand and the US, for the best countries for travel and remote working in 2022," he added.
 
According to him, the emphasis in the Middle East is on delivery of work rather than location. 
 
"However, what works for one group of people or one organisation in the region will not suit everyone, so the imperative is to establish a framework that allows the individual some autonomy while maintaining culture, knowledge sharing, productivity, and brand," he added. 
 
Savvy organisations will blend the residential, hospitality and workplace sectors and recognise it is less about catering to hybrid work and more about servicing the hybrid lifestyle to attract and retain talent. 
 
Sense of community
 
Reinvigorated lobby spaces for example, can become lively areas that serve office-based and mobile/virtual clients, partners, colleagues, and the greater community. 
 
This sense of community is key as Gallup estimates that poor wellbeing costs businesses $20 million of additional lost opportunity for every 10,000 workers globally.  With the reduction of traditional office space, comes the expansion of experimental and collaborative environments; communal zones where people can relax, shop, and work. 
 
Demand for green and blue spaces are increasing, with ponds, walking trails, bike storage, cycling facilities, sports courts, auditoriums and cafeterias on the rise, as employees seek out spaces to decompress, spark inspiration and enrich the workplace experience. 
 
Informality will be favoured, with casual kitchens, social hubs and outdoor spaces for employees to connect, catch-up, and meaningfully engage with one another. Just as outdoor space has become the most prized residential amenity, so too has open green space become more important in a commercial environment.-TradeArabia News Service