As the world reemerges from the shadows of the pandemic, companies are taking innovative measures to reinvigorate the workplace. One key strategy is the provision of amenity spaces to create a more inviting and attractive work environment. A proven, powerful tool to entice staff to return to the office, these versatile spaces promote relaxation, collaboration, and employee well-being.

Legal offices have long been associated with high-pressure environments and demanding workloads. By incorporating thoughtful and well-designed amenity spaces, these firms can attract and retain top talent while supporting their well-being and productivity.

AMENITY SPACES CAN SUPPORT A BALANCED WORK ENVIRONMENT

First and foremost, amenity spaces play a significant role in supporting a balanced work environment. They offer staff a respite from job pressures, fostering a healthier work-life balance, reducing burnout, and contributing to improved mental health and job satisfaction. Moreover, amenity spaces encourage spontaneous interactions and informal discussions among colleagues. These impromptu social touchpoints strengthen teamwork and camaraderie while supporting improved employee well-being. When team members feel valued and connected, they are more likely to be invested in the firm’s success and contribute to its growth.

In our recent project with a major media corporation’s legal department, our client’s primary goal was to encourage their employees to return to the office. The client wanted to create a welcoming, comforting space that would help foster collaboration and community—to “create a buzz” in the office and give people a reason to want to work from there.

“After initially struggling with the work-from-home model, I had become very comfortable and content working remotely and wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about returning to the office,” said one staff member.  “Our newly renovated space is bright, sophisticated, and welcoming, and has completely changed my mind. I am now back in the office full time and credit the new space with enhancing my ability to focus, facilitating collaboration with my co-workers, and restoring my enthusiasm for working in the office.”

AMENITY SPACES CAN APPEAL TO DIFFERING WORK STYLES AND SETTINGS

To cultivate our client’s ideal office culture, we designed a variety of elevated amenity spaces to support differing work styles and settings. One of these spaces—the Hospitality Lounge—serves as the office’s main hub by day and as an entertaining space after hours. The Hospitality Lounge is a reception, break room, library, coffee bar, and living room, all in one. It’s a place where staff can come to relax or engage with colleagues while fostering a sense of community in the workplace.

We also designed a Quiet Lounge for more focused collaboration or individual heads-down work in an alternative work setting. The Quiet Lounge features two adjacent Zoom rooms for one-to-two person Zoom meetings, a bespoke wellness room, and a standing-height meeting counter that doubles as a puzzle table, an element specifically requested by the client as a getaway from high-stress work. These spaces enable lawyers and support staff to recharge their minds during hectic workdays.

The post-pandemic workplace is witnessing a transformation, and amenity spaces in legal offices cater to the changing preferences of the modern workforce. Many legal professionals, particularly the younger generation, value workplace flexibility and a blend of formal and informal settings. Through amenities such as flexible workstations, casual meeting spaces, and collaborative hubs, legal firms can accommodate diverse working styles and create an environment where staff feel empowered to work in ways that suit them best.

AMENITY SPACES ARE AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY’S CULTURE AND WORKFORCE

By prioritizing employee well-being, fostering collaboration, and accommodating diverse working styles, companies are enticing their staff back to the office with a promise of a fulfilling and rewarding work experience. A thoughtfully designed office that prioritizes employee well-being and fosters a sense of belonging can significantly contribute to staff retention, satisfaction, and productivity. Ultimately, the provision of amenity spaces is not a gimmick to attract staff back to the office—it is an investment in the company’s culture and workforce.

Learn more about the working world and how it is redefining its culture. Little’s recently published Beyond Workplace III book explores the possibilities, the realities, and even the impossible.