On January 18, 2021 Victoria began a staged return to the office with most workplaces in the private sector set to return to 50% capacity. By the beginning of March, offices were expected to be mostly full, with new measures put in place to make workers feel safe and supported. The media reported a steady rise in foot traffic in the CBD as companies were interviewed about their staff’s excitement over a return to in-person meetings.
 
In reality, things look a little different. In fact, the big return to the office has not exactly met expectations, particularly among landlords and business leaders.

The moratorium may have been extended to the end of December, but businesses still need to plan for the future direction of their workplace. Workplaces will never be the same. People’s expectations have changed in terms of what they want and need from an office and this will significantly impact future property decisions.

The “Hub and Spoke” is an approach that we have helped clients implement as they face growth, downsizing or other major changes within their organisation. When executed correctly, the Hub and Spoke method can improve business’s bottom line while boosting productivity, performance and wellbeing among staff. 

One business leader recently likened himself to a wombat who hesitantly pops his head out of his burrow to inspect for danger before allowing the other wombats to emerge.
 
The return to work has begun, albeit slowly and warily. Business leaders know that the office they are returning to will not be the same office they left back in early March. In fact, it will never be the same office again. It would be foolish to ignore the heightened sense of anxiety that accompanies this. While there remains a myriad of issues (economic, physical and mental health related) to deal with upon our return, businesses should first look at their strategy to help them make a successful return.

​With restrictions set to ease and budgets thrown out the window for this financial year, many organisations are rethinking what the NEW norm looks like. Studies are already revealing that Australia’s workforce has enjoyed numerous benefits of working from home, among them, reduced commuting, increased work-life balance, and greater productivity. As a result, many workplaces are now looking at how they can support this newfound flexibility and reduce their operational expense.
 
The concept of ABW, or agile working is receiving a lot of attention, and while the past couple of months have been manageable for the short term, there are a number of key factors that should be considered before investing in this approach for the long term.

As a certified Bcorp, BRM is dedicated to using our business as a force for good. Across all services we deliver, from design, to project management and property strategy, BRM places the wellbeing of our clients at the centre of what we do. While wellbeing and commercial property haven’t always been closely associated, now, particularly with the Coronavirus outbreak, commercial property owners and tenants are taking unprecedented measures to ensure their buildings are healthy enough for the people within them. So what are the elements that make a building healthy or unhealthy?

​What are the steps we’re taking in 2020 to make the workplace more inclusive?
 
Across Australia workplaces are adopting practices and designs that celebrate the individual differences of the worker. Where diversity was once unique to the common workplace, it has now become a legal responsibility, with laws in place to ensure all types of workers are accepted. But these days, workplace design goes far beyond legislation. 

Nextt is a leading provider of disability support services, enhancing the quality of life for many Australians. BRM Projects is no stranger to the folks at Nextt, having provided property strategy, search, fitout and accommodation strategy services as far back as 2015.

This week we sat down with Natalie Gillam, Business Transformation General Manager at Nextt to talk about her workplace and their latest experience with the BRM team.

​The workplace has evolved incredibly – from a time when physical skill and labour were the main focus, to today’s landscape, dominated by technological advancements. It’s safe to say that the idea of work, and the worker, has undergone quite the transformation over the centuries.
 
So how do we prepare for the next step in the evolution of the workplace? The answer may be simpler than we thought.
 
In the current economic climate, businesses are pro-actively changing in response to the growing expectations of their workers.
Now that people are defining the future of work, we need to examine their needs, their values and their purpose. In doing so, companies are following all kinds of ‘workplace trends’ to attract top talent. But the successful workplaces are those that have three core elements at their centre: Technology, Design and Culture. Each element on its own is a kickstarter to a better workplace, but when used in support of each other, they are a recipe for a brand new paradigm of work, possibly the best we’ve seen so far. 

​‘The workplace of tomorrow’ is a term that most organisations are striving towards these days. It seems that everyone wants to hitch a ride on the workplace wellness bandwagon with companies adopting practices from agile working, to yoga and nap pods.
 
The real workplace of tomorrow, however, will be shaped by much more than a passing trend. In fact, the working landscape has already changed dramatically over the past decade and rapid changes continue to happen before our eyes. So how do we keep up? The answer may be simpler than you think…