Page 45 - RC21 EDGE Summer Issue

without sacrificing the flexibility they’ve come to expect. As a corporate real estate leader, you should be considering flexible office space strategies that support these goals.
56% percent of leaders who responded to the CBRE survey said they plan to use these strategies to help them man- age uncertainty and minimize costs and risks. One easy way to improve the flexibility of your existing spaces is to implement desk hoteling. By eliminating assigned seats and making workstations reservable, employees can
come and go as needed. At the same time, a desk booking system gives you full transparency into space utilization so you can make adjustments accordingly.
If you notice one of your buildings has an average occu- pancy of only 10% on Fridays, you might consider opening only four days a week or finding other tenants to use it on those days.
Considering how much the pandemic has changed commuting habits, you may also want to explore adding coworking spaces to your portfolio.
JLL’s Future of Office Demand report predicts a slower re-entry to offices located in areas that are dependent on public transportation. However, these spaces are
typically closer to social opportunities and amenities
that will make them enticing as people begin to return. Many workplace leaders are considering supplementing these centrally located offices with smaller spaces closer to employees’ homes. This gives them access to an office environment without a long daily commute while allowing them to maintain a sense of community at a company’s headquarters.
Make your buildings a destination of choice
Because many employees will no longer be required
to work in an office every day, their expectations have changed. When they do return, their most basic need
is to feel safe. They expect their employer to continue established wellness protocols including reconfiguring spaces for physical distancing, conducting wellness screenings, and increased cleaning and sanitization.
As a larger percentage of the population becomes vaccinated and concerns about COVID subside, employees want to work in an office that inspires them, promotes collaboration, and supports their long-term well-being.
They expect to use the office more like a hotel, coming in for specific purposes and looking forward to certain
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