Released in 1980, “9 to 5” by country legend Dolly Parton has surprisingly become more and more relevant over the decades, especially as our world becomes more modern, innovative, and technology-dependent.
“Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living
Barely gettin’ by, it’s all taking and no giving
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it.”
— “9 to 5”, Dolly Parton
The discontentment of American workers is being heard loud and clear through their adamance to continue working from home despite pressure from employers to return back to the office. What began as a health and safety measure requiring people to work remotely became the utmost preference for almost every employee who could do their jobs with a computer and internet connection.
Remote work gives workers more freedom than ever before. They save time in the mornings and evenings from commuting. The time they used to spend stuck in traffic is now freed up for relaxation, leisure, and family time, as well as chores and new business ventures.
If employees experience so many benefits from working from home, why would they want to return to the office? Why would someone give up the comforts of working in their pajamas at the kitchen table for a suit and tie at the office desk?
As it turns out, as much as employees love working from home, many would still prefer working at least one day of the week at the office.
Video conferencing just isn’t the same as face-to-face interaction; in almost all cases, collaboration can be more productive when meeting in person. There simply isn’t a technological replacement for physical presence. This is why employers and employees may be meeting in the middle soon through hybrid working.
With hybrid working, companies will want to maximize the time that their employees spend at the office. Since collaboration is best done in person, companies are redesigning their offices to encourage face-to-face interaction. Companies are purchasing used office furniture in Los Angeles that is specifically designed for teamwork.
By investing in new architecture, design, and furniture, companies are hoping that modifying their offices for hybrid working will help increase productivity as well as retain and attract talent. When a group discussion or task is best done in person, an environment that is conducive to group meetings will encourage people to actually meet in person, rather than relying on email, Slack, and Zoom calls.
Many companies are refreshing their spaces—knocking down walls, opening up their floor plans, and purchasing collaborative desks in LA. These desks are made to be shared, making them both functional and cost-efficient, helping companies pivot towards hybrid working.
Even in the most difficult of times, the magic of being together isn’t lost. It’s up to employers in this new era of work to pivot and adapt to hybrid working. By investing in office furniture and design, employers might be able to change the narrative of the 9 to 5 from Dolly Parton’s song to something that won’t drive people so crazy anymore.
For collaborative office furniture and design, you can give Creative Office Design a call today.
Creative Office Design
5230 Pacific Concourse Dr #105, Los Angeles, CA 90045
