Office Peacocking in Remote Work

Work from home: In response to the global pandemic of COVID-19, many companies are now adopting 'office picking' strategies to retain employees and encourage them to return to their physical office space. Industry experts have highlighted this trend, which aims to attract remote workers back to the workplace. Let's find out what 'office picking' is all about and how it affects employees who work from home.

The Concept of Office Peacocking Explained:

Office picking refers to the technique where employers enhance the attractiveness and comfort of their offices, which has become increasingly popular in bringing back workers after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Karthik Narayan, CEO of TeamLease Services, 'speaking in PTI-speak', this trend is in India. Gained momentum as working from home became more prevalent and comfortable for workers, creating a challenge for them to return to the office.

The office is designed to be attractive:

Office Picking' involves improving the workplace environment with attractive furniture, decor, comfortable seating, adequate natural light, and quality food. These measures aim to create a vibrant and attractive workplace environment.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, HR director and CEO of CIEL, a company specializing in workforce management, has noticed a significant rise in the 'office picking' trend over the past two to three years. Investment in office decoration and design is reported to have increased by around 25-30 percent.

Mishra told 'PTI-Bhasha' that this trend is particularly prominent in major metropolitan areas like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-National Capital Region, and Hyderabad. These cities host numerous multinational companies and startups leading the adoption of this trend. Titi Dey, managing director of Space Matrix Global, a workplace design firm, highlights that 'office picking' has gained significant popularity in recent times.

Promoting a return to office:

Companies are exploring ways to reintegrate workers in the post-office global pandemic, placing significant emphasis on technological advancements. According to PTI-language, he noted, 'Organizations can increase workforce productivity by creating an empathetic environment that addresses both functional and emotional needs.