Businesses need to rethink workplace spaces during pandemic — WeWork

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): Businesses have needed to adapt and rethink their strategies in the face of a constantly evolving environment, including planning workspace commitments, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic that has impacted the manner in which organisations have had to reorganise work arrangements.

WeWork Southeast Asia and Korea head of growth Ray Tan said with greater emphasis placed on safety, hygiene and cleaning measures, as well as professional distancing practices, the future of work is one which sees companies needing to strike a balance between driving growth while maintaining operational and cost efficiency.

WeWork is an American commercial real estate company that provides flexible shared workspaces for technology startups and services for other enterprises.

WeWork designs and builds physical and virtual shared spaces and office services for entrepreneurs and companies.

“Whether to meet scalability needs or as a means of future-proofing the business, pivoting to space-as-a-service providers can prove to be a smarter long-term strategy for companies in Malaysia.

“By moving away from fixed workspace commitments, re-allocating budget to other key business priorities can help keep businesses afloat,” he said in a statement.

Tan said co-working spaces are a practical choice as companies recover and face the ‘new normal’.

He said co-working spaces add flexibility to businesses, empower sustainable work arrangements, support business continuity efforts and have a sense of community.

He said the current climate calls for work environments that foster collaborations and that most enterprises, individuals included, find that shared spaces increase their commissions and connections, expand their business, create jobs, and stimulate the economy.

“The flexible workspace sector itself in Malaysia is expected to be a growth driver as it offers alternatives to businesses who are looking to enhance their operational flexibility and efficiency in the coming months,” he said.

Tan said WeWork has been adept at reinventing the workspace to support modern employees, by setting the bar with best practices reflective of the new normal.

“Its products, design, and services have been revamped to meet members’ new expectations from professional distancing to cleanliness standards.

“By implementing a renewed workplace standard across its locations, members are ensured of a smooth transition back to the workplace,” he said.

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