CHICAGO, October 27, 2021 – The workplace has never stopped evolving, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated many trends that are reshaping the world of work. Born out of the uncertainty that dominated the pandemic and the initial “return to office” conversations, a new book published today by Wiley aims to start a dialogue among C-suite leaders, managers, corporate real estate executives, property managers and individual workers about the evolution of workplaces. “The Workplace You Need Now: Shaping Spaces for the Future of Work” aspires to help organizations large and small envision human-centric, technology-enabled workplaces that drive productivity and foster greater well-being for their workforce.

“Mass disruption always fuels innovation, and the pandemic and larger threat of climate change are no exception,” said Rishi, CEO of JLL Work Dynamics, Americas. “Work itself is being redefined and the workplace must evolve along with it, moving away from a cost to emerge as a driver of brand, talent, culture and creativity—and a key means to achieve organizations’ sustainability goals.”

Rishi continued, “This shift won’t happen without careful consideration of every facet of the workplace, from where it is located, to how it is used and what technology powers it. This book is a guide for businesses of every size to find the solutions they need today that will put them on the path to future success.”

The workforce is increasingly diverse, multigenerational, digitally native, on-demand and distributed around the world, yet the workplace still holds value for individual employees and employers. According to JLL research, 79 percent of global workers report a desire to come into the office at least some of the time.

What has changed is what employees desire from the office, with 73 percent seeking a destination for human connection, as well as a safe and healthy lifestyle, rather than simply a place to accomplish work tasks.

“The office is becoming one of many options in a workplace ecosystem, so time in the office must become more intentional, focused on high-value activities like in-person meetings, trainings and brainstorming sessions,” said Ben Breslau, Chief Research Officer, JLL. “Every organization will have to create a workplace strategy that balances organizational vision and operating frameworks with employee needs and unique work styles. We know that strategy must be fluid as these needs continue to evolve.”