Welcome to 2025! What will office space need to look like in 2030? 2035? Our hybrid world is most likely here to stay. What can be done to provide our staff with the optimal work environment that meets the needs of our patients and the work and life needs of our staff, and provide faculty with the needed administrative support to run successful practices and reduce “pajama time” and rework?
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January 2025A top priority is understanding and defining our administrative needs. Understanding which tasks can be done remotely and which require in-person work will facilitate the development of job descriptions that attract individuals who will be successful in their roles. Individuals need to feel that their effort in coming to work is justified, that their time and skill are valuable to the institution or practice, and that they have the needed space to perform their roles. Riding a train for two hours without having a dedicated workspace to perform tasks they could do effectively from home will not retain the highly talented staff we need to care for patients.
Additionally, we need to understand the needs of each staff member. Each individual has unique needs that enable them to work at their best. Depending on their commute time, along with the available office space at home and at the workplace, staff may prefer in-office, hybrid, or fully remote work arrangements.
Furthermore, whether in person or remote, we need to build highly functional, trusting teams. The 2024 Harvard Business Review article, “We’re Still Lonely at Work,” asserts that loneliness should not be used as a reason for everyone to be in person, as the authors found that loneliness is not caused by remote or in-person work but by dysfunctional teams. So, whether you and your staff are in person, remote, or hybrid, focusing on developing highly functioning teams will go a long way toward organizational success.
Lastly, office space is a symbol. A symbol of respect in the organization. Take a walk down the halls at your place of work. Who has a big office? A window? A shared office? No office? An office is also, of course, a place to get work done—write, see patients, make phone calls, compose emails, and have in-person and virtual meetings. How is office space assigned in your organization? What are the rules on hybrid versus remote work?
Life is about balance. Finding the sweet spot between in-person and hybrid work, understanding the types of office spaces needed, and determining how office space is assigned are critical for ensuring the future success of healthcare institutions and providing the highest quality of care to our patients.
Things to consider:
- Define in-person versus remote tasks.
- Improve technology to facilitate remote work.
- Provide the office space needed to perform in-person work effectively.
- Build highly functional, trusting teams to decrease loneliness regardless of whether the work is in person or remote.
- Understand how office space functions as a symbol. Are you sending the right message?
—Robin