By Manas Mehrotra
The last few years may have proved the efficacy of remote work, but, one thing our two-dimensional, video-powered work life does not do well is foster human connections. That’s why companies must rethink the physical workspace to inspire human interaction, ideas and innovation. While creating a more relaxed work setup has been a trend for some time, employers, in their pitch to get employees to return to in-person work, are going to greater lengths than ever to make their offices look exciting. This concept of Office Peacocking involves transforming traditional office spaces into appealing environments that encourage staff to spend more time on-site. Coworking fits this paradigm aptly as this sector is doing everything to offer the best comforts: greater collaboration to better well-being of employees along with making office look more inviting and vibrant. Office peacocking has been doing rounds for a while but it’s only recently that it started trending among workplaces, especially with companies attempting to lure employees back to offices. Hence let us understand this concept a bit more.
Resurrection in Office 2024
The work-from-home (WFH) culture saw a substantial increase in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, as numerous organisations switched to remote work to ensure business continuity and protect employee health. However, to make the return to work more appealing, businesses are enhancing office environments with stylish decor, well-stocked kitchens, fully equipped gym and ergonomic furniture amongst many other amenities. This practice is experiencing a resurrection in 2024 and employers are redesigning workspaces with plush sofas, cozy corners, ample natural light, and an abundance of plants to create a vibrant, lounge-style atmosphere and make the workspace attractive.
The Pushback effect
Major companies have implemented positive measures following pushback from employees after the return-to-office mandates. It has been four years since the pandemic occurred and yet employees are finding it difficult to get back to office. This made it difficult for employers to galvanize work in a big way and hence resorted to office peacocking. The habit of staying at home over a long period stiffens the employee who develops a comfort zone. This prevents employees from engaging in discussions that attract them to work from office. Breaking the comfort zone has been the biggest challenge for offices to prompt the workers to return to office.
Enhancing Collaboration and Productivity
With work from home making it difficult to ensure productivity and collaboration, the return to office was inevitable. This meant that people could interact with each other, collaborate on ideas, work out strategies and carve out a common work goal that would not only help them, but the company as a whole. The plan was to make both the individual employee as well as the company synergise together and bring out the best results. This naturally necessitated that the office should be a space that will act as a great motivator. They are also designed to break down silos, spark serendipitous interactions, and ultimately drive innovation through knowledge sharing.
While all these changes are happening, employees are very particular about where they want to work. They want to work in places where their wellbeing is looked after, and where the values match. Office Peacocking, could prompt younger employees and freshers to the return-to-office in the hopes of securing career opportunities and gaining ground in office. This perceived need to be visible in the office could lead to long-term growth. Overall, while office peacocking may seem like an innovative approach to attract employees back to the workplace, companies must balance its benefits to ensure a sustainable and supportive work environment for all employees.
(The author is Manas Mehrotra, Founder, 315Work Avenue, and the views expressed in this article are his own)
