The Return to the Workplace – How the Office Can Help Productivity - DENTON

Productivity has been a talking point in the media during the pandemic, as recent ONS figures shown productivity grew at the fastest rate on record in the middle of 2020 compared to the previous quarter and appears to be on the rise again. However, how true is this?

As most people shifted to working from home, the novelty of having a lie-in and not embarking on a horrendous commute each morning was undoubtedly appealing and exciting to begin with. However, it was short-lived as employees began to work longer hours, juggling a work-life balance and not to mention the continuous IT issues. People certainly felt the pressure to demonstrate their relevance and value to a business – even from home, inevitably resulting in a lack of motivation and burnout.

So how can the workplace make a difference to maintain productivity? As the vaccine continues to roll out and a date is in sight for the ease of all lockdown restrictions here in the UK, the return to the workplace is inevitable. Whether it is for hybrid working or the full five days of the week, attitudes towards the place of work have certainly changed.

The office of the future is taking on additional responsibility. Most significantly, it’s now more of a destination for staff to refresh, rejuvenate, socialise, and creatively collaborate.

Productivity vs Performance

Productivity is vital to companies as much as it is to the employees. When employees are efficient, they maintain a sense of purpose, recognition and develop their career. However, productivity isn’t the only and most important indicator of success. Performance also plays a crucial part and is probably the better indicator as it contributes to the organisation as a whole, including engagement, commitment, growth, innovation, and contribution.