The gradual rollback of remote work arrangements, which were put in place as a short-term fix to keep businesses operating during the height of pandemic lockdowns, has now given rise to one of the most contentious issues in the employment arena. To return to the office, or not to return, that is the question. 

Some prominent businesses like Spotify are steadfastly upholding flexible work-from-home policies, stating resoundingly that “remote staff aren’t children.” Other tech giants, however, such as Amazon and iPhone challenger, Nothing, have made U-turns on their previous work-from-home policies, implementing return-to-office policies across the board for all corporate employees. 

Taking their lead from the tech heavyweights, return-to-office (RTO) mandates are now widespread for businesses throughout the United States. And with the new administration declaring an RTO mandate for all federal employees of government offices throughout the country, the tide well and truly seems to be shifting against remote, hybrid, and even flexible work schedules.

Drastic Shift: From Widespread Remote Work to Full RTOs

The prestige and dominant market power of big-name tech brands helps ensure they can continue to attract top talent in droves, regardless of any contentious mandates like a full RTO. This will remain true even despite the attrition of former remote hires who were attracted by the flexible work location policies of a few short years ago. 

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The US office market has been dramatically transformed by the changes to work practices and mobility restrictions implemented throughout the course of 2020 and early 2021. Whilst it was predicted that the market would slowly rebound starting in recent months, the demands of office occupiers will have changed substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a brief overview of the main things to look for in an office space during the second half of 2021.

Office Layout

Flexible spaces

Flexibility remains a key consideration when choosing an office, not only in terms of lease terms, but also office layouts. Many office-based companies are still unsure about their ability to retain staff in the face of reduced revenue, combating this uncertainty by implementing rotating shifts or flexible work hours, two factors which have ultimately led to businesses struggling to identify the total headcount in the office at any given time.

This uncertainty will lead to an increase in demand for modular spaces that can be adjusted depending on the number of people present in the workplace. These kinds of dynamic layouts have been an option for several years, often going hand in hand with trends towards multi-functional office spaces. Some of the main elements that typify flexible workspaces include:

•  Blurred indoor to outdoor transitions.
•  Movable walls and room dividers.
•  Lightweight or mobile office furniture.
•  Adjustable or movable lighting.

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The need for a satellite office is often a marker of business growth and success. Relocating the main headquarters and operations of a business isn’t always practical due to the time and expenses involved. As businesses evolve and expand their reach across the globe, they often require a physical presence in multiple locations, allowing them to operate effectively outside of their initial location. A multinational tech giant, such as Amazon, can be seen as a prime example of a business that utilizes satellite offices across the globe to ensure that their reach extends beyond their main Seattle office space. For many companies, acquiring satellite locations is the most feasible way of meeting growth and expansion needs, especially when there are contractual or financial limitations to how much an office can be physically expanded.

Satellite offices, also known as branch offices, tend to have a smaller footprint than their parent company. Many organizations benefit from having a network of satellite locations instead of a centralized office, creating a web of offices which allows them to operate to maximum efficiency.

Satellite offices can be in a different city, county or state from their parent company or the company’s headquarters. To determine where a satellite office should be based, factors such as the proximity to the target market, tax or financial incentives, and the area’s business or economic development climate are taken into account.

As part of the state of California, Los Angeles is renowned for its thriving business scene and strong economic indicators. The city benefits from a mature commercial real estate market that offers a great variety of alternative office spaces, usually ranking among the top five in the United States. Read the rest of this entry »