Hybrid home: Humana reimagines the workplace for the post-pandemic era
The pandemic has changed the way we work around the world. Companies have quickly rethought traditional workflows to stay connected and focus on the employee experience. By holistically rethinking their workplaces, Louisville-based designers at Humana are working on new workspace models that ensure the safety and well-being of employees, while providing more flexibility and a variety of ways to work together.
+ 33
The need to rethink how we organize our work is related to the role of offices in creating a safe, productive and enjoyable environment for employees. Many companies have redesigned facilities to allow for physical distancing and restrict movement in congested areas. At the same time, offices are being redesigned to complement the experience employees get at home. The context of physical workplaces is also changing as attitudes towards offices and commuting continue to change.
The future workspace for Humana is designed to best support a more hybrid workforce with an increased focus on collaboration, interaction, hospitality, culture, support and experience. The idea is that their workplace experience will gradually change as communities begin to normalize in the post-pandemic era. Realizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Humana introduced a fourth style of work – hybrid home (office, hybrid office, hybrid home and home). Given the choice of workplace, the Humana workplace is being reimagined so that people can gather, socialize and experience Humana culture with ease and simplicity.
Humana employees want the future of work to include more flexibility in getting the job done. So this hybrid home model also supports a wider range of flexibility for employees, understanding the impact of commuting and the desire for change when people get together. Now they are reinforcing new standards in space and furniture design that embrace new ways for employees to use the office.
Rethinking the future of the workplace also means streamlining and repositioning Humana’s corporate real estate portfolio to align with new ways of working and office culture. It does this by implementing a fully integrated tech ecosystem of workplaces that is mobile first with robust self-service capabilities for the future. With over five million square feet of administrative space, Humana’s ability to transform its workplace and support new ways of working requires a multi-year strategy.
The post-pandemic workplace for Humana also includes more flexibility in how work is done. Thanks to the new program and furniture standards, employees can learn new ways to use the office. The programming of the space shifts from a cubic stacked floor to a more residential feel that supports teamwork. Their recent renovation features a semi-public coffee shop, a takeaway market, a convention center, and a makeshift co-working space. The downtown Louisville campus also has other new inviting spaces, including the Refill coffee shop, game room, and outdoor pop-ups.
A transformational approach to office renovation is definitely needed. Instead of incrementally adjusting existing floor space, companies like Humana are re-thinking how much and where space is required and how it contributes to the desired outcomes for collaboration, productivity, culture and work experience. Efforts like these show how organizations can leverage a portfolio of space solutions: own space, standard tenancy, flexible tenancy, flexible space, collaborative space, and remote work.
