Money Buzz! Europa

Tag: office

  • Coronavirus pandemic reshapes employees’ perception of ideal workspace

    Coronavirus pandemic reshapes employees’ perception of ideal workspace

    According to Skanska’s survey among people in CEE, nowadays nearly half of office workers go to the office every day.

    The same percentage being valid for Romanian employees who have returned to their workplaces.

    18% of Romanian employees work in a hybrid model, with 3 or 4 days a week in the office, while 20% of Romanian employees work only from home.

    Top choice: hybrid model with office work dominating

    For 51% of the employees surveyed, the ideal working model involves at least 3-4 days a week working from the office. This trend is visible in all CEE countries.

    Specifically for the respondents from Romania, 27% would like to work in the  office at least 3-4 days a week, this being their ideal working model.

    Another 22% of them would like to work exclusively from the office and 19 % would prefer to work only from home.

    Offices need to offer more than before

    The most important aspects of remote working listed by CEE employees include the ease of organizing family life (51%), good working conditions at home (48%), and saving time on commuting to the office (45%).

    The study notes several differentiators in terms of what would motivate employees in the four countries to return to the office.

    For Romanian employees, the most important thing is for the workplace to reach high-quality standards, including sanitary ones and the possibility to relax and work outdoors.

    For Polish employees, a first motivating factor would be the possibility to use the restaurants or canteens at the employer’s expense.

    Employees in the Czech Republic and Hungary, on the other hand, want to work in a quiet place or individual, separate rooms for work.

    Hungarians would also appreciate free parking spaces.

    Dream office: comfort, safety, and good IT connection

    Among the first three indicators of an ideal office for Romanians are: very good quality IT equipment (39%) and green, open spaces for work and relaxation (33%).

    Other crucial aspects include a quiet space that allows concentration (32%), professional lighting that does not tire the eyes (27%), separate or individual workspaces (18%).

    Among the barriers that Romanians have regarding returning to the office are the impossibility of serving a warm and healthy meal at work (14%).

    17% do not want to spend their time in a confined space with air conditioning, and 26% fear of getting the virus once they return to the office.

    The study also confirms the great importance of safety issues. The results show that high sanitary standards can encourage working in the offices, while lack of them causes fear of contracting the virus.

    Daily disinfection of the office (41%), lower population density (37%), and non-contact solutions (37%) are the main factors that would positively affect employees’ sense of safety.

  • Munca la birou: Câteva sfaturi pentru a pune stop ochilor obosiţi

    Munca la birou: Câteva sfaturi pentru a pune stop ochilor obosiţi

    În timp ce unii angajaţi preferă să lucreze de acasă, fiindu-le mai uşor să dea randament, alţii de-abia aşteaptă să se întoarcă la birou. Teama de înbolnăvire cu noul coronavirus s-a mai diminuat în contextul în care tot mai multe persoane se vaccinează anti-COVID-19. Dar ce îi motivează pe aceşti oameni să se întoarcă la birou în regim full-time? O posibilă explicaţie ar fi dorul de socializare şi familiara pauză de cafea.

    Deşi în ultimii ani s-a tot vorbit despre aşa-zisele „new ways of working” şi la tranziţia către o comunitate mobilă care să le permită angajaţilor să lucreze de oriunde, nimic nu se compară cu interacţiunea de la birou cu colegii. Dacă vrei să te întorci la birou până la vară, nu eşti singurul/singura. 

    Munca la birou poate influenţa negativ sănătatea ochilor

    În ziua de azi, munca de birou se bazează pe calculator. De fapt, ar fi imposibil să-ţi desfăşori activitatea fără acest dispozitiv. Este folosit pentru diverse sarcini, precum crearea produselor, marketing, contabilitate, şi lista poate continua. Calculatorul, fie că este desktop sau laptop, permite o creştere a vitezei şi preciziei multor procese de lucru, ceea ce îmbunătăţeşte eficienţa generală. Problema este că petreci prea multe ore în faţa ecranului.  Nu este bine să-ţi concentrezi privirea pe un text mic, de-abia iluminat pe calculator pentru perioade lungi de timp. De ce? Păi, pentru că îţi obosesc ochii. 

    Ecranul dispozitivului poate cauza o oboseală a ochilor, care se manifestă prin simptome precum disconfort ocular, vedere înceţoşată, senzaţie de arsură şi dureri de cap. Lucratul în faţa ecranului unui calculator pentru o perioada lungă de timp (8 ore pe zi) devine periculos pentru ca te expui luminii albastre. În cazul în care te întrebai ce este lumina albastră, iată nişte lucruri pe care trebuie să le ştii neapărat despre lumina albastră. Lumina de culoare albastră poate duce la scăderea acuităţii vizuale, precum şi a productivităţii. Dacă munca ta implică lucrul la calculator, inevitabil te vei confrunta cu una sau mai multe din simptomele enumerate anterior. 

    Sfaturi împotriva ochilor obosiţi 

    Suprasolicitarea digitală a devenit cu încetul o parte integrantă a stilului de viaţă modern şi este motivul pentru care te supără ochii şi simţi nevoia de a-i relaxa. Există un număr tot mai mare de persoane care au probleme cu vederea, tocmai din cauza luminii albastre emise în timpul folosirii calculatorului. După ce verifici emailuri, realizezi sarcinile de muncă şi stai puțin pe reţelele de socializare, este normal ca ochii tăi să se resimtă. Pentru mai multe informaţii despre ce poţi să faci să combaţi oboseala oculară citeşte în continuare. 

    Ia poziţia corectă în faţa monitorului

    Te vei simţi mult mai bine dacă modifici rezoluţia ecranului şi ajustezi înălţimea monitorului. Ochii tăi ar trebui să privească uşor în jos. Ai grijă ca monitorul să fie la o lungime de cel puţin un braţ faţă de ochi pentru a putea focaliza. În cazul în care monitorul este mai mare, este necesar să măreşti distanţa. Totuşi, dacă eşti prea departe, nu vei putea să citeşti literele de pe ecran. La aceasta se mai adaugă şi tendinţa de a te lăsa pe spate şi de a-ţi întinde mâinile prea mult. Pe de altă parte, dacă eşti prea aproape de ecranul calculatorului, îţi vei forţa  ochii. 

    Pentru a găsi distanţa perfectă este necesar să ţii cont de acomodarea vizuală. Dimensiunile variază în ceea ce priveşte monitoarele de calculator, aşa că trebuie să verifici de două ori dacă ai nimerit distanţa corectă. Ar trebui să vizualizezi întreg ecranul şi să lucrezi comfortabil fără a-ţi forţa prea mult ochii sau mişca vreo parte din corp. Este important de reţinut faptul că nu există vreo soluţie magică. Mai precis, orice poziţie ai adopta, nu eşti complet protejat/protejată. Ia pauze regulate şi fă puţină mişcare. 

    Umezeşte-ţi ochii 

    Afectarea filmului lacrimal este de cele mai multe ori subestimată, în ciuda importanţei sale. Lacrimile au rol de umidificare şi lubrifiere a suprafeţei oculare. Ele te protejează de particule străine, microbi, etc. care ar putea duce la infecţii. Dacă îţi este imposibil să mai suporţi lucratul îndelungat la calculator, cititul sau orice activitate ce presupune o focalizare susţinută a privirii, umezeste-ţi ochii. Foloseşte picături de ochi. Lacrimile artificiale combat efectele ochilor uscaţi şi ameliorează roşeaţa ochilor. Există o gamă largă de produse, aşa că ai din ce alege. Indiferent pentru care produs optezi, asigură-te că nu conţine conservanţi. 

    Poartă ochelari pentru calculator  

    Din moment ce nu poţi evita lumina albastră, măcar protejează-te. O pereche de ochelari de calculator este exact ce-ţi trebuie. Aceştia au o capacitate impresionantă de absorbție a luminii albastre emisă de monitoarele LCD. Lumina astfel filtrată este galbenă, caldă, plăcută. Oferta este variată, ceea ce înseamnă că pe piaţa din România sunt numeroase opţiuni din care poți alege. Este recomandat să-ţi iei ceva de calitate, chiar dacă costul este mai mare. Până la urmă, este vorba de ochii tăi. Ochelarii de protecţie pentru calculator pot fi cu sau fără dioptrii. 

    Dacă nu ştiai, ochelarii pentru calculator intră în două mari categorii: cei pentru corectarea viciului de refracţie şi cei pentru protecţie împotriva luminii albastre. Atunci când ai vederea înceţoşată, ochii sunt uscaţi (sau lăcrimează) şi durerile de cap pur şi simplu refuză să dispară, ai hipermetropie sau astigmatism. Medicul oftalmolog îţi va prescrie ochelari cu lentile monofocale. Dacă ai simptome specifice celor care suferă de un viciu de refracție doar când lucrezi la calculator, ai nevoie doar de lentile de protecţie, cu tratament antireflex. 

    În concluzie, s-ar putea spune că munca la birou dăunează sănătăţii. Totul de la statul pe scaun la privitul încontinuu la calculator te afectează într-o măsură sau alta. Dacă nu eşti făcut/făcută pentru munca fizică, n-ai ce face. Nu poţi să-ţi schimbi cariera, dar poţi să iei măsuri ca să poţi supravieţui la job.

    Pe lângă sfaturile enumerate mai sus, ai putea încerca să iei vitamine. Vitaminele A, C, E, zinc şi cele din complexul B asigură buna funcţionare a vederii. De asemenea, practică masajul ocular.  Freacă palmele pentru a genera căldură şi masează uşor ochii. Rezultatele sunt vizibile imediat. 

  • Mindspace launches new office rent solutions starting at EUR 18

    Mindspace launches new office rent solutions starting at EUR 18

    Mindspace launches ”Hybrid office”, its new array of on-demand solutions for companies and individuals adapting to the new work model.

    Mindpass Daily and Mindpass Multi offer on-demand, casual access to office spaces for 1, 4, 8 or 12 days a month, and can be purchased online.

    Prices start at ($30, £20, PLN 85, 135₪, €18).

    The ”Hybrid Office” offers a private office to companies under a hybrid model with teams who prefer working in-office on their WFH rotations.

    This solution includes Mindspace membership benefits such as access to meeting rooms, event spaces, common areas and the many amenities available on site.

    A global study run by Barco shows that 85% of the workforce wants to return to the office and resume the social aspect of working life.

    But, on the other hand, they want the freedom, flexibility and facilities to adopt a better blend of home and office working.

    The study also shows that this shift to a hybrid model is a trend that’s been building for many years and COVID-19 has simply accelerated it.

  • 2020, one the poorest years in the last decade for the Bucharest office market

    2020, one the poorest years in the last decade for the Bucharest office market

    2020 was one the poorest in the last decade for the Bucharest office market in terms of demand, reflecting uncertainties generated by the pandemic.

    Overall, gross take-up declined by c.40% compared to 2019 to 214,000 square meters, the lowest level since 2012.

    New demand stood at around 70,000 square meters, according to the 2020 annual report released by Colliers.

    The effects of the ”pandemic year” continue to be felt in the Bucharest office sector in 2021, with a recovery likely to last several years.

    Outside Bucharest, the gross demand in the four major office submarkets – Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași and Brașov – decreased some 19% in 2020, to 60,000 square meters.

    But, more than half of last year’s take-up came from a single lease, a renewal of over 30,000 square meters in Iași (Amazon).

    These markets hold a cumulated modern office stock of close to 900,000 square meters, less than one third of Bucharest’s, while these cities tend to have a similar pace for job creation.

    156,000 square meters of new modern offices delivered last year

    In terms of delivery, 2020 was a robust year for the Bucharest office market, with some 156,000 square meters of new modern offices delivered.

    Also, there is a big difference compared to the 286,000 square meters seen in 2019, but it is still a fairly robust figure at around 5% of the current modern office stock in Bucharest.

    In 2021, about 250,000 square meters of new modern offices are set to be finalized, with pre-lease ratios at around 40% for new projects at the end of the previous year.

    A positive aspect is that the major additions in 2020 were spread throughout different submarkets, a sign of a mature and stable market.

  • Skanska to invest EUR 76M in a new office building in Prague

    Skanska to invest EUR 76M in a new office building in Prague

    Skanska invests EUR 76M in the first phase of Port7, a mixed-use project located in Prague. The construction contract is worth about CZK 1.7 billion.

    The ten-story office building will have a total leasable area of around 27,700 square meters, with two underground parking levels.

    The investment also includes underground parking levels for the planned second phase of Port7.

    The full Port7 complex will offer about 35,000 square meters of A-class office and retail premises in three buildings, with retail stores, restaurants, cafés and fitness centers located on the ground floor of the buildings. 

  • 10.4 billion euro, investment volume in the 6 largest countries in Eastern Europe last year

    10.4 billion euro, investment volume in the 6 largest countries in Eastern Europe last year

    Romania almost doubled its share in the region’s turnover over the previous year and entered the big league, after Poland and the Czech Republic, but before Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.

    In a year severely affected by the pandemic, in which Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary all saw year on year declines in volumes, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria all saw positive trends.

    Overall, volumes in 2020 declined by 24% compared to 2019 with the year closing at about 10.4 billion euro.

    Poland remained leader in the region, with investment volumes accounting for 51% of the overall CEE6 total with a total value of investment transactions worth 5.2 billion euro.

    Czech Republic followed with a 26% share, thanks to a large residential portfolio sale.

    Romania completes the top with a 8.5% share and a volume in the area of almost 900 million euro (up by about 40% over 2019).

    The transaction completed by NEPI Rockcastle, advised by Colliers, involving the sale of four office projects to AFI Europe accounted for almost a third of the local investment market in 2020.

    The office sector was dominant all over the region in 2020 in terms of transactional activity, with a share of 41% of the total volume of investments, followed by industrial and logistics spaces sector (32%) and away from the more challenged retail and hospitality sectors (12%).

    Bucharest, highest yields in the region

    Bucharest has some of the highest yields in the region for the office sector (7%), compared to at most 4.25% in Prague, 4,65% in Warsaw or 5.25% in Budapest.

    Going forward, rents will remain relatively stable, with prime headline still around 18 euros per square meter in the office sector in Bucharest (and an average in the region of 14 euro per square meter).

  • Bucharest office market registered a steady return of demand in Q4 2020

    Bucharest office market registered a steady return of demand in Q4 2020

    In the last quarter of 2020, in Bucharest there were transactions of office spaces with a total area of ​​77,000 square meters, the highest quarterly value of the year.

    The annual volume of transactions reached approximately 237,000 meters squares, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

    Compared to the previous year, the transactional office area decreased by 39%, while the share of renewal contracts increased from 21% to 45%.

    The most important office project completed in the last quarter of 2020 was One Tower, with a leasable area of ​​24,000 square meters, part of the mixed project One Floreasca City, the total deliveries of new office spaces in 2020 totaling 155,000 square meters, a decrease of 46% compared to 2019.

    The commercial stock (destined for lease) of office buildings in Bucharest amounts to approximately 2.95 million square meters, other buildings with an area of ​​approximately 150,000 square meters being occupied by the owners, while projects with a total area of 350,000 square meters are currently under construction, being scheduled for delivery between 2021-2022.

    In this context, the (contractual) vacancy rate of office spaces is 12.5%, with a significant difference between class A (9.7%) and class B (20.7%) spaces.

    The most important office projects under construction are One Cotroceni Park, J8 Office Park, Globalworth Square, U Center, Miro Offices, Ţiriac Tower, Dacia One, Millo Offices, Expo or Sema London & Oslo, the developers having signed pre-lease contracts for about 60% of the spaces.

  • Skanska invests EUR 45 M in the second phase of Equilibrium Bucharest

    Skanska invests EUR 45 M in the second phase of Equilibrium Bucharest

    Skanska invests EUR 45M in the second building of the Equilibrium office project located in the northern part of Bucharest.

    The 12-storey building will comprise of a total leasable area of 19,900 sqm and 229 parking lots above and underground.

    At its completion, the entire two-building Equilibrium complex will offer 40,800 square meters of leasable area.

    The project has a unique mix of green relaxation spaces, with modern exterior furniture that incorporates wireless chargers, power sockets and free WiFi, but also with numerous facilities to encourage urban mobility and an active lifestyle.

    Construction works are planned to be started in February 2021 and are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2023.

    The first phase of the project, Equilibrium 1, became operational on November 1, 2019.

  • 36% of employees think they will return to the office in 2021, along with the entire team

    36% of employees think they will return to the office in 2021, along with the entire team

    More than a third (36.5%) of employees who responded to a recent survey initiated by Genesis Property believe that the entire team within the company they are working for will return to the office this year.

    Most say that offices have become an important part of their job in the context of Covid-19 and over 57% will evaluate this aspect more closely in the future, when they will seek a new job.

    While proximity of the office to their home remains an important factor for most employees (65%), the pandemic year increased the importance of health measures taken in the building (for 51% of respondents) and of the workspace structure, with greater emphasis on delimited offices that facilitate distancing (for 49.3% of respondents).

    At the same time, 41% say that, from now on, they will carefully evaluate what technologies are available in the workplace to ensure better protection for their health and for the health of their colleagues.

    The post-pandemic office: safer and more creative

    Looking ahead, in addition to the health measures that more than 60% of respondents to Genesis Property’s survey consider necessary in office buildings today and in the future, many employees believe there is also room for further changes.

    52% believe that, in the future, offices should provide employees an integrated work, lifestyle, entertainment, and socializing experience.

    Another 45% consider that the current situation represents an opportunity for the integration of technologies based on artificial intelligence which can eliminate repetitive and routine activities whilst redefining how they will work in the future.

    Lastly, 40% want to have the opportunity to work in spaces that give them a better environment to manifest their creativity.

  • Romania: Total volume invested in real estate assets reached €914 million in 2020

    Romania: Total volume invested in real estate assets reached €914 million in 2020

    In 2020, the total volume invested in real estate assets in Romania reached €914 million, a 28% increase compared 2019, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

    The most active segment was by far the Office sector, with estimated transaction values of approximately €784 million, representing 86% of the total investment value.

    The Industrial segment attracted 9% of the capital, while the remaining 5% were split between the Retail and Hospitality sectors.

    In total, a number of 24 income-producing properties were transacted in 2020, an average of €38 million per property, one of the highest such values in the last decade on the local real estate market.

    Biggest transactions of 2020

    The six largest transactions pertained to office projects, including the disposal of NEPI Rockcastle’s office portfolio to AFI Europe. The transaction consisted of four office buildings in Bucharest and Timisoara totaling 118,000 sq. m GLA, which were sold for €307 million, the largest office deal ever signed in Romania.

    Moreover, the €100 million threshold was exceeded by a number of other office transactions, the most relevant for the market being the purchase of Floreasca Park, a landmark 38,000 sq. m GLA office project, by a joint venture between Zeus Capital Management and Resolution Property (Fosun), marking the entry of Chinese investors on the Romanian office market.

  • S IMMO purchased two office buildings in Bucharest from Skanska

    S IMMO purchased two office buildings in Bucharest from Skanska

    S IMMO purchased Campus 6.2 and Campus 6.3 office buildings developed by Skanska in the Center-West submarket of Bucharest.

    The transaction volume is approximately EUR 97 mln.

    The two buildings have a rentable area of nearly 38,000 square meters and 463 parking spaces. Currently, 99% of the buildings are leased by companies such as Microsoft and Société Générale European Business Services.

    Campus 6.3 has already been delivered in October 2020, and Campus 6.2 is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

    The new buildings acquired by S IMMO, Campus 6.2 and 6.3, increase the office portfolio of S IMMO in Romania to over 73,000 sqm of GLA, together with the existing office buildings, The Mark and Sun Plaza Offices.

    At the end of this year’s first nine months, the total investment volume in Romania accounts for EUR 521.4* mln (*including GTC shares transaction), with office buildings as the most traded sector, accounting for 90% of the total national transaction volume, according to the CBRE Research data.

    At the end of the third quarter of 2020, prime yields remain stable for the office and industrial segments.

  • First Class A office building in Craiova, in Electroputere Parc Mall

    First Class A office building in Craiova, in Electroputere Parc Mall

    The new offices are part of a mixed-use building covering 12,300 square meters that has been completed this year and another similar building covering 12,700 square meters is set to be finalized in the second quarter of 2021.

    The total investment in both developments amounts to 39 million euros.

    With this new opening, Electroputere Parc adds 4,300 square meters of commercial spaces and 8,000 square meters of office spaces, alongside 650 new underground parking spaces for customers and employees.

    The new commercial spaces are already occupied by brands like Hervis, Volvo, Pepco, Takko and Sportissimo, as well as several coffee shops and restaurants.

    The Class A office building is also almost entirely leased. The main tenant, covering 60% of the gross leasable area, is HELLA, the leading automotive supplier specialized in innovative lighting systems and vehicle electronics that has 4,500 employees in Romania in total.

    Electroputere Parc to upgrade in 2021

    Construction works for a second tranche of the mixed-use development of Electroputere Parc are well underway, with plans to be finalized in the second quarter of 2021.

    This will add another building offering 12,700 additional square meters of mixed-use spaces.

    Once this second tranche is completed, the total gross leasable area of the new complex will increase to 25,000 square meters, of which 9,000 square meters for retail and entertainment and 16,000 square meters for offices.

    The French real estate group Catinvest, which owns and manages Electroputere Parc, also owns and manages several other shopping centers in Romania – Carrefour Orhideea and Cora Pantelimon in Bucharest and Carrefour TOM in Constanta – as well as in Eastern Europe – Auchan Savoya Park in Budapest and Tesco Borska Pole in Plzen.

    Catinvest is also active in France in residential and shopping centers activities. In total, Catinvest owns and manages more than 500,000 square meters of spaces in France and Eastern Europe.