Why the Traditional 8-Hour Desk Job Is Becoming Obsolete in the UK

The world of work is an ever-evolving landscape, and businesses who want to attract and retain the best talent today need to think creatively and sustainably about their workspaces.

With numerous companies attempting to bring staff back into physical offices, which current trends should business owners adopt to develop excellent work environments for their personnel?

Given my experience as a firm behind many of Ireland’s most prominent office refurbishments, I've observed shifts in workplace behaviours and the difficulties accompanying these changes.

There was a significant change in business approaches towards office spaces following the pandemic. New trends arose as employees began working remotely, and these trends keep influencing modern work environments.

Individuals grew fond of particular aspects of their living areas, leading these traits to be mirrored in workplace settings. This concept is referred to as 'resimercial' within our field; it refers to designs that blend components from domestic and business architecture, commonly seen in offices, hotels, and various public venues aiming for a homier atmosphere.

With wellbeing and inclusion at the top of the priority list in office design, leaders have had to ask themselves: how do we create a comfortable, relaxed environment that fosters collaboration and community, and makes people feel good about coming to work?

And bringing residential elements into commercial spaces to create a more homely, welcoming environment is absolutely part of that reprioritisation.

The attitude of companies looking for a new or refurbished office space used to revolve around fitting in as many people as possible and making those people productive. That is no longer the case.

The old format of placing staff behind a desk for eight hours a day and applying a one-size-fits-all approach to productivity is out, and prioritising the experience people have in the workplace is in.

However, this situation presents difficulties since business proprietors do not always heed the opinions of their employees and fail to adopt an honest stance regarding timelines. Should bosses neglect to consider employee input and enforce rigid deadlines, they will lack sufficient opportunity for meaningful interaction with their workforce. This deficiency can adversely affect well-being, personnel retention, and recruitment efforts.

The most effective method for designing an office places human needs central to the creation process. Given that we dedicate 70% of our lives to work, it's crucial to take into account what individuals desire.

An additional factor to take into account is neurodiversity, with studies from ZenBusiness revealing that 53% of Gen-Z employees currently define themselves as neurodivergent.

As millennials and Generation Z account for 38% of today’s global workforce – a figure projected to increase to 58% by 2030 based on PwC estimates – it becomes clear that accommodating the requirements of neurodiverse employees enhances overall productivity. Indeed, meeting these needs has only positive outcomes.

Therefore, what should firms focus on when revamping their spaces? In our view, establishing a pleasant and inviting workspace is essential across all areas of the enterprise and will influence operations for many years ahead. If employees feel valued and appreciate their surroundings, this can lead to an excellent corporate atmosphere, ultimately driving success for the business.

• Ronnie Crawford serves as the managing director at Calibro, a firm specializing in fitouts, with branches located in Belfast, Antrim, and Dublin.