A smart working policy that does not translate into consistent space remains a statement of intent. Space is where the rule becomes real experience: if the two contradict each other, the policy does not work and the space is not used well.
The policy belongs to HR: the space is our field
Days in the office, union agreements, rights and tools are organisational and contractual decisions. ARCHIlabs adds value where the policy is already defined: translating it into a space consistent with the choices made. A well-written smart working policy applied to an office that has not been redesigned produces daily situations that are hard to manage – desk shortages on peak days, fully booked rooms, empty areas on low-attendance days.
Translating policy into space: the concrete mechanism
The starting point is the actual attendance the policy provides for – not nominal headcount. Through interviews and surveys we reconstruct how many days people really work on site, team by team and role by role: the typical day in the office, collaboration needs, attendance peaks. From that figure we calculate the desk sharing ratio consistent with the policy and redesign the mix of spaces accordingly. An average attendance lower than total headcount frees up m² that can become collaboration hubs, informal meeting areas or support spaces. The dimensional reference is the BOMA standard, which provides an objective basis for measuring the efficiency of the space.
Consistency between rule and place
A policy that sets days dedicated to in-office collaboration requires spaces designed to host it: group work areas, configurable rooms, informal zones that encourage exchange. If those areas are missing, the rule that invites people into the office to collaborate does not deliver what it promises. Conversely, a reduced-attendance policy on an old layout sized for everyone generates empty space and pointless fixed costs. Consistency between policy and space is a condition for both to work – and it can be verified with data.