A Workplace shift: Office redesign, mental wellness and the growing preference for office return - Anne Rutledge

Many South African companies are re-evaluating their remote work policies, favouring a return-to-office approach. However, Anne Rutledge, Executive Director-Talent Solutions from Resourgenix says the concept of hybrid work, which allows for a blend of office and home-based work, is a lasting trend. In this interview with Biznews, Rutledge maps out how companies can carefully transition their existing staff back to the office to find a balance between remote and in-office work. She suggests a redesign of the office space to encourage collaboration and provide flexibility, noting the prevalence of hot desking in South Africa. It does not need to be a huge revamp, she says. For a new generation of workers, she says an office environment is important for support and guidance from their peers to progress. Hot desking, she says, is popular in South Africa. Acknowledging the global talent shortage, particularly acute in South Africa, Rutledge recommends rethinking work practices and possibly supplementing permanent staff with flexible, contingent workers. She also observes a gender disparity in the desire to return to the office, with more men than women expressing interest, and underscores the need to prioritise mental wellness initiatives given the blurred boundaries between work and personal life. As for the future of what people wear in the office, she says suits and ties have been pushed to the back of the cupboard, with individuality and a relaxed dress code coming to the fore. - Linda van Tilburg