No-one could have predicted that the way we work would change so dramatically in such a short period of time. This sudden change has led to dialogue around “the future of the office” with real estate and design experts eager to see what the long term office landscape will look like.
 
But more deserving of our attention right now, is the current state of the office landscape. How will businesses approach a re-entry into the office after the latest lockdown? What are the short term implications of these lockdowns on our office space? Two things are certain:
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1.The office itself will never completely disappear and there will always be a need for it in some form or another
2.When we eventually return, it won’t be to the office as it was pre-COVID

​Here are some of the considerations around office space right now:

The end of the Jobkeeper period is fast approaching as businesses begin to prepare for a new normal after lockdown.

​Over the last few months conversations have taken place between commercial tenants and landlords as they settle on rental relief agreements. Historically, landlords and tenants have not been expected to act in the best interest of the other party. But COVID has forced us to come together and be considerate of each other’s position. This new found co-operation will hopefully re-define the commercial landlord-tenant relationship and answer the following questions in the immediate aftermath of lockdown:

This end of financial year will be like no other. Businesses across the world are beginning to feel the true financial impact of this crisis as the need to cut costs becomes more vital than ever before. 

In this rapidly evolving marketing, organisations are forced to adapt and make swift changes in order to protect themselves financially. For many businesses, the largest expense is real estate. Rental expenses remain  a key area to consider in cutting costs and it is not too late to maximise rental savings at this stage. There are 2 ways you can take action on this right now:

This week we asked Brendan Lucas, Director of NFP Accounting firm 'Hopscotch' about how his team is coping in the face of change and uncertainty:

Today's "What's Working" Q&A is with Bellamy's Organic Director of Food, Mikki Silverman, who discusses the amazing way her team has approached the challenges of working from home. 

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.

The Federal Government has passed the COVID-19 Omnibus Bill which includes important commercial and residential tenancy changes. The code comes into effect in all states and territories after 3 April 2020 for the period during which the Commonwealth JobKeeper program is operational.  

When the JobKeeper was originally released, the mechanisms for a NFP to qualify where not properly considered. As a result, a secondary test has been included and to further assist the application of the JobKeeper program and how it relates to NFPs (excluding charities) Treasury have released a supplementary fact sheet.

Read our summary of the key aspects of the legislation and the eligibility of NFPs for JobKeeper in this article.

​To say that 2020 has been a challenging year so far is an understatement. Many businesses have been quick to adapt to the new norm, embracing different ways of working and online communication tools. As they do so, many find themselves shifting their mindset, from ‘survival’ to ‘opportunity’. As these new opportunities begin to present themselves, they will no doubt leave an impact on our commercial property landscape.
 
Today, BRM is addressing some questions about change and opportunity for both landlords and tenants.

​Last night the Federal Government passed the COVID-19 Omnibus Bill which includes important commercial and residential tenancy changes. The code comes into effect in all states and territories after 3 April 2020 for the period during which the Commonwealth JobKeeper program is operational.