Archive for the ‘Business Advice’ Category

8 Benefits of In-Person Meetings: Meeting in Person vs Online

September 5th, 2023

A young woman holding a tablet backlit by sunlight coming through a window confidently addresses her colleagues sitting around her at a table with laptops open in front of them or with notepads and pens for taking notes. Image at Offices.net.

Meetings are an essential aspect of corporate culture. It’s estimated that the average office worker in the US spends a third of their time in meetings, and the figures are even higher for executives and senior staff.

The widespread adoption of online communication tools has transformed the way meetings take place, prompting a debate between the merits of in-person and virtual meetings. In this article, we examine the pros and cons of in-person vs. online meetings and discuss why face-to-face interactions continue to have value.

Online meetings: Pros and Cons

In a relatively short period of time, virtual meetings have become the norm in most office-based companies. Data from 2022 shows that in just two years, the amount of time spent in virtual meetings had increased from 14 hours per week to more than 21 hours per week, matching or even exceeding the time spent in face-to-face meetings. There are several advantages and disadvantages to this virtual meeting format.

Read the rest of this entry »

Understanding Rentable vs Usable Square Footage (and Common Areas)

June 11th, 2023

When looking for new office premises, you may notice that listings advertise office space using different terms, such as usable, rentable or common area square footage. It’s important to understand what each of these terms means, so you can choose an office that suits your space requirements and budget.

In this article we look at the differences between usable, rentable, and common area square footage, and we discuss what tenants need to be aware of when evaluating and budgeting for their space requirements.

Usable Square Footage

This refers to the amount of space each tenant has exclusive access to. The specific inclusions and exclusions vary depending on whether the office in question takes up an entire floor, or the floor is shared with other tenants.

In full-floor setups, usable square footage includes every area within the floor, whether it’s used by office workers or not. This includes workspaces, restrooms, kitchens, breakout rooms, common areas, reception areas, meeting rooms, hallways, as well as rooms used for technical and janitorial purposes. The only exclusions are any areas that aren’t exclusively used by the tenant occupying that floor, such as stairwells or elevator shafts. These are part of the unit’s gross square footage, which isn’t taken into account for determining lease rates.

In multi-tenant floors, usable square footage includes workspaces and any other rooms allocated for the specific use of each tenant. For example, shared bathrooms or kitchenettes wouldn’t be included, but if each tenant has exclusive use of a restroom, this is added to the office’s total usable square footage.

Read the rest of this entry »

Office Amenities of the Future: Office Building Facilities & Amenities to Look Out For

May 15th, 2023

A return to the office is a reality in most US markets, but in 2023 work-from-home models are still common, since 27% of US office employees currently work from home. Not only that, but when surveyed, nearly 70% of US employees said they would prefer to work from home.

This raises an important issue for office facility managers: how to make in-person office work as attractive as the allure of the home office. In turn, this brings landlords into the equation, as they need to make their real estate offerings more competitive in a market where tenant demands have changed. In this article, we discuss the latest trends in office facilities and the best office amenities that can be found in 2023.

Latest trends in office facilities

Outdoor space

Although office work has traditionally been confined to indoor spaces, the renewed focus on air quality and overall well-being during the pandemic has brought to light the crucial role outdoor spaces play in modern corporate buildings. Research shows that access to nature and outdoor environments can improve productivity, reduce stress, and enhance creativity among employees.

Patios, rooftop decks, landscaped terraces, and other outdoor areas are rapidly becoming some of the most sought-after amenities for office workers. These physical spaces not only provide a breath of fresh air and an escape from the indoor office environment, but also foster social interactions and collaboration among employees, creating a healthier and more dynamic workplace culture.

Read the rest of this entry »

A Full Guide to Commercial Lease Assignment (Lease Transfer)

November 8th, 2022

a full guide to commercial lease assignment or lease transfer stamped with a red CONFIRM mark image at offices.net

Dealing with a fixed-term lease agreement and looking to move offices or downsize? The topic of commercial lease transfer can be confusing to navigate, particularly when you are unsure of your rights and obligations under the lease.

If you’re renting a commercial property, you signed a contract at the beginning of your tenancy called a lease agreement, which contains all the details of your rights and obligations while occupying and conducting business operations at the commercial property. Your agent is required by law to give you a copy of the lease agreement if you don’t already have one.

The following article will serve as a full guide to commercial lease assignment, providing business owners with an overview of the legal considerations and elements required for an assignment of lease.

What is a Commercial Lease Assignment?

Also known as a lease transfer, a commercial lease assignment involves a tenant transferring all of their interests and rights in a lease to a new party. This new tenant will take on the responsibilities of the existing lease, including rent and any other obligations, leaving the original tenant free to exit the agreement.

Read the rest of this entry »

Creating a Healthy and Productive Working Environment

December 2nd, 2021

Eight hours per day, 4 or 5 days per week: the average office worker spends tens of thousands of hours at work over the course of their career.

In our last blog post, we covered 5 ways to create a great office culture. Today, we’re building on these ideas and exploring some of the important steps that businesses can take to create a healthy and productive working environment for this culture to thrive in.

Because of the significant amount of time that people spend at work, employers have a duty of care towards their staff. Among other things, this entails going the extra mile to create the healthiest possible workplace environment. Here are some tips to help employers build a more productive work environment.

Adopt a holistic approach to workplace health

Health isn’t just physical; it has psychological components too. A holistic approach to health in the workplace means paying attention to:

  •  Physical health: Health and safety, ergonomic furniture, wellness amenities, etc.
  •  Psychosocial health: Relationships between co-workers, management style, communication, positive values, flexible hours.
  •  Development: Providing professional development opportunities and incentives to be productive and set new goals.

Read the rest of this entry »

5 Ways to Create a Great Office Culture

November 4th, 2021

There’s no doubt that a healthy organizational culture is one of the greatest assets any company could have. Employee engagement, motivation, retention, and talent attraction are greatly influenced by company culture.

But culture can be an abstract concept. How exactly can a healthy corporate culture be cultivated in an office environment? In this article we’ll look into five ways you can do so.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cost of an Office Fit-Out or Renovation in the USA

July 21st, 2021

Office renovations can help create a more productive workplace and support a business’s branding strategy. However, these projects can have a significant impact on capital expenditure. Calculated per rentable square foot (RSF), fit-out and renovation costs went ranged from $90 to $220/RSF in 2019-20, depending on location, office size, cost of labor, and industry sector – since some businesses (such as tech companies) require fit-outs to higher and more costly specifications.

What follows is a breakdown of the costs involved in renovating an office in the United States. *

Construction Costs

These costs involve the removal, addition or alteration of physical elements in a building, office floor or office unit. Construction costs include materials and labor, as well as fees charged by contractors, and they serve as the biggest expense in fit-out projects – accounting for 50% to 70% of the total cost.

Average costs are $90/RSF. Depending on location, they can be as high as $139/RSF or as low as $54/RSF.

Read the rest of this entry »

Office Features to Look Out for in the Second Half of 2021

June 23rd, 2021

The US office market has been dramatically transformed by the changes to work practices and mobility restrictions implemented throughout the course of 2020 and early 2021. Whilst it was predicted that the market would slowly rebound starting in recent months, the demands of office occupiers will have changed substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a brief overview of the main things to look for in an office space during the second half of 2021.

Office Layout

Flexible spaces

Flexibility remains a key consideration when choosing an office, not only in terms of lease terms, but also office layouts. Many office-based companies are still unsure about their ability to retain staff in the face of reduced revenue, combating this uncertainty by implementing rotating shifts or flexible work hours, two factors which have ultimately led to businesses struggling to identify the total headcount in the office at any given time.

This uncertainty will lead to an increase in demand for modular spaces that can be adjusted depending on the number of people present in the workplace. These kinds of dynamic layouts have been an option for several years, often going hand in hand with trends towards multi-functional office spaces. Some of the main elements that typify flexible workspaces include:

  •  Blurred indoor to outdoor transitions.
  •  Movable walls and room dividers.
  •  Lightweight or mobile office furniture.
  •  Adjustable or movable lighting.

Read the rest of this entry »

A Guide to Subleasing in The United States

April 22nd, 2021

A sublease is an agreement between a party who already hold a lease to a property and a separate party looking to rent the property in question, whether that be partly or wholly. For example, a business who leases five floors of office space in a building may look to sublease one of those floors, in the event that they downsize their workforce prior to the end of the initial lease. The party who holds in initial lease is known as the sublessor, whilst the third party looking to occupy a part of the leased space is the sublessee.

How to Sublease

The first step is to check whether you need your landlord’s written permission to sublease a property. This should be outlined in your lease agreement. If subleasing is permitted, the agreement may also specify whether you’re required to give notice to your landlord.

Next, make sure you’re familiar with the legal aspects of subletting in your area, since every state has its own sublet laws that take precedence over lease agreements. You can check state-by-state details here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Introducing Pets into the Workplace, a Smart Idea or Barking up the Wrong Tree?

January 11th, 2021

The office can be a stressful place at times, particularly when deadlines are looming and clients are expecting results fast. These stresses can result in negativity, tension, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of dread, feelings which can ultimately impact productivity and mental wellbeing. Companies across the globe have worked tirelessly to combat these workplace stresses, introducing comprehensive strategies to improve the wellbeing of their employees and cultivate a healthy working environment. Introducing pets into the workplace is one such plan that can, if implemented correctly, positively impact employees by improving morale, reducing stress, easing anxiety, and increasing job satisfaction.

Amazon is a prime example of a global company that has successfully introduced pets through their long-standing tradition of bringing dogs into their Seattle headquarters, a space which is now home to as many as 7,000 dogs on any given workday! The example set by large companies such as Amazon has inspired countless other businesses to adopt similar initiatives, resulting in pets becoming increasingly common in the workplace, particularly in millennial-driven organizations and  creative offices that encourage collaboration.

But what exactly do you need to know before introducing your furry friend to the workplace and what benefits or downsides can come from bringing your pet to work?

Read the rest of this entry »