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The head office: evolution or revolution?
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Johanna
09/09/2024
Workspaces
The head office: evolution or revolution?
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Ah, the head office... the ultimate symbol of a company's grandeur and unity, the sacred temple of strategic decision-making. Yet, in recent years, it seems to have been overtaken by market innovations. Telecommuting has become the norm. Coworking spaces are flourishing. The head office - as we knew it - has become as obsolete as a Nokia 3310. Should we (already) bid it farewell, or give it a second life? Spoiler: the head office hasn't said its last word! After all, the trend is towards reconditioning, and that's exactly what's in store. Come on, let's take you on board this little revolution.
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Head office: refurbishment
Hybrid working has turned our reference points upside down. Gone are the days when the head office was the employees' one and only workplace. Today, it has to reinvent itself to adapt to new ways of working, technological advances and (above all) the ever more demanding expectations of employees. The head office thus becomes a multifunctional place, where collaboration, innovation and encounters - in the flesh and in person - blend brilliantly.
Goodbye to the cubicle-style offices of the 80s and their fixed Windows 98 PCs. Hello to spaces where comfort, practicality and conviviality reign. Because - let's be honest - even in the age of the virtual café, there's no substitute for a good cup of coffee shared "in real life".
Tomorrow's head office is being reinvented around 3 fundamental pillars, and we take you behind the scenes of this refurbishment.
Pillar no. 1: a social and productive mission
First step in the reconditioning process: the social and productive mission of head office. No, this is not just HR jargon! From now on, head office must be seen as a meeting place, where skills meet and links are forged. It becomes a catalyst for collaboration, innovation and those famous informal discussions - which move projects forward much faster than any Zoom meeting.
But that's not all. This living space must also be a model of fairness and inclusiveness. Spaces must be optimized to suit all employees, whatever their needs or working style. From creative brainstorming rooms to quiet open spaces and relaxation areas, everything must be designed to promote well-being and productivity. In short, the head office must embody the company's culture, a place where it's good to get together, recharge one's batteries and - why not - reinvent oneself.
Pillar no. 2: an environmental mission
Ah, the environment! There's no escaping it when it comes to reconditioning, is there? Especially when you consider that the building sector accounts for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions in France(1). The head office should no longer be just a building, but a model of sustainability. Far from being a matter for individual companies to decide, French regulations set the tone. The 2019 tertiary sector decree requires companies to reduce their energy consumption - and there's no dodging that.
The starting point for this transition is your employees' habits. Understanding their habits will enable you to rethink spaces, reduce unused square meters, and therefore reduce your carbon footprint. Rethinking your head office is both good for the planet and virtuous for your organization. A win-win equation at a time when every gesture counts!
Pillar 3: Cost optimization
Money, money, money... Now let's talk business. Reducing unused square meters also means optimizing costs. With hybrid working, the office no longer accommodates full-time employees, so why continue to pay for 2,000m² when only half of it is occupied? Thanks to innovative real estate strategies such as flexible real estate, you can adapt your space to suit your real needs. A bit like a giant Lego: more space one day, less the next - anything's possible.
But beware, there is no miracle solution. An effective strategy is a tailor-made one. So ask yourself the right questions: where should your head office be located? What uses should be deployed there? What other types of location can you offer your employees? It's all a question of analysis, agility and adaptation.
So, is this the end of the head office? Certainly not, but it must evolve to remain relevant. Tomorrow's head office will be flexible, inclusive, eco-responsible and, above all, adapted to the new realities of work. It remains a central pillar of the company, but it must reinvent itself to meet the new challenges of the working world.
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<font size="-1">Nos sources</font>
<font size="-1">(1) https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/politiques-publiques/construction-performance-environnementale-du-batiment </font>
