Nov 21, 2023, 07:03 PM IST

Office Peacocking, a technique to bring employees back to workplace

Srishti Sisodia

Image Credit: Pixabay

Srishti Sisodia

Working from home during the coronavirus pandemic became a new normal. But as the virus cases subsided, employees have started going back to the offices.

Employers are trying to re-establish the pre-pandemic norms by asking for dedicated 40 hours a week to be spent in office cubicles and desks. But it's not that easy.

Employees have become used to working from home — which is extremely convenient for those who have kids at home, or the elderly to take care of.

Now employers want to lure employees to offices, and to do so, they are trying to create an inviting space. Some of them are making efforts to inject a sense of fun and innovation into the workplace. This trend is known as "office peacocking".

The focus of office peacocking is to transform offices into spaces that resemble homes rather than traditional corporate settings so that they are as comfortable as working from home.

Owl Labs' "State of Remote Work" report says that employers must consider instituting flexible arrangements as per today's employee demand. They must be "intentional" about how company headquarters look and operate now despite the financial burden of these changes.

The modern office set-up must aim at welcoming employees back. It should be decked up with features such as cosy couches, abundant natural lighting, vibrant accents, and living plants.