The last decade has witnessed a seismic shift in how tech employers manage their offices, and how knowledge workers engage with them.
“Since the COVID19 pandemic hit, there has been a clear shift in the way we look at the physical office,” the CEO of Aura Office Environments stated for Tech Talent Canada.
According to Dan Boram, thing seems for certain: As Canada’s tech workforce continues to expand, returning to the pre-pandemic days of working is not an option.
“Employees don’t want to return to the same office that they left in 2020,” Greg Wooster, vice president of workplace strategy and design at Aura Office Environments, recently informed Business in Vancouver.
“Clearly, there was a major shift that happened because of COVID, so we really have to elevate our workspaces and elevate the employee experience to make sure that employees are really benefiting from coming into the office.”
Global nonprofit speaker series TenantTalks is bringing this important conversation to Vancouver on October 16.
At the Fairmont Hotel, speakers across sectors and disciplines will present around the topic of “Maximizing the In-Office Employee Experience,” with a broad objective to bring leaders together to discuss experiences, challenges, ideas involving the evolution the the office and how we work.
Panel discussions, combined with a commercial expo, will highlight Vancouver’s dynamic commercial real estate scene and showcase innovative products and services designed to upgrade workspace environments.
“The options you have for a new office layout are endless,” Boram said. And while he acknowledges that every organization requires tailored solutions, “Your primary goal when creating a new office layout is to curate a space that encourages collaboration and productivity.”
The CEO suggests being “intentional with all aspects of your workplace strategy,” such as having all decisions made with the employee experience in mind.
“For example, instead of having a large office it might be better to have smaller satellite offices nearer to workers’ homes,” he offers. “Another thing I would like to point out is that social spaces, gathering areas and learning spaces are not enough—A social space cannot simply be placed into an office; there must be a purpose for it.”
Presented by Aura Office, tickets for TenantTalks in Vancouver cost $25, with proceeds funding regional charity Backpack Buddies.
