In this article, we will discuss the Life Science industry. The growth and productivity of this industry are being driven by the lightspeed adoption of new technologies and rapid advancements in innovation.

Explore how hybrid work factors into an organization’s long-term real estate or workplace strategy.

What we believe to be the three most impactful things to get right when it comes to workplace strategy and design.

After not working in an office for over 20 years, the idea of working remotely – usually at home - feels normal to me. And while I—dedicated remote worker that I am—can get my work done pretty effectively without going to the office, I still miss my periodic trips to work with colleagues at our headquarters or to meet with clients in one of our regional showrooms. It definitely feels like something is missing.

How does distributed work factor into an organization’s real estate or workplace strategy within the context of increasingly collaborative work processes, an emphasis on positive workplace experiences, and new definitions of engagement and productivity? And how has this been impacted by COVID? It all starts by assessing what has worked since March 2020 and how that may be adapted into a long term distributed work program.

Closely tied to our memory function, our sense of smell is yet another form of non-verbal communication that can have an impact on stress levels as employees come back to the workplace. Environmental psychologists even have some pretty interesting specifics on the power held within certain fragrances.

Imagine this—you walk into the office after months of working from home and the first thing you see as you enter the building is tangled caution tape, blocking off the public seating area in the entry way.

During this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves “designing for new realities” within the workplace. Together with our clients, design partners and dealer community, it is important that we are continually learning and sharing ideas and concepts that will allow us ALL to be successful in this new reality.

Most employees who have been working from home for the last 90+ days were directed to ‘because working in the office was not safe,’ and many likely in less than an ideal situation – such as finding time to work full-time and homeschooling their children. And as challenging as home might be, the idea of returning to the office for a ‘safe re-entry’ may stir up a good amount of anxiety. So, to help overcome some of that added stress, it’s crucial for an organization to develop a specific change communication plan to help employees understand ‘what to expect’ when they come back to the office.

We’re all familiar with stress and how it complicates our performance on any given day, but there’s a certain level of austerity to our current situation that few could relate with prior to the onset of this virus. It’s as if we’re seeing the world from a new COVID-colored lens, which brings with it an expectedly powerful potential for new stressors.