July 19, 2024

Financial Firms Return to Office: Is Your Workplace Ready?

by: Align

Wall Street Shifts Back to the Office

According to a recent Forbes article, major Wall Street firms are mandating a full-time return to office for thousands of employees who were previously allowed to work from home. This shift is partly driven by new regulations from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) requiring home offices of remote workers to be registered and inspected every three years. For many financial institutions, the complexities and costs of complying with these regulations have made a complete return to traditional workplaces the more appealing option.

What This Means for Your Organization:

This transition presents a unique opportunity to reimagine your workplace. The team at Align has identified critical areas that can help transform your workplace and boost your team's potential:

  1. Collaboration: It's crucial to ensure seamless teamwork, whether employees are in the office or working remotely.
  2. Space Utilization: With changing work patterns, it's time to reassess how your office space is used. This might mean optimizing your current layout or evaluating the need for additional space.
  3. Technology Infrastructure: Robust IT systems are the backbone of a modern office. They need to support fluctuating traffic patterns and provide reliable connectivity for all team members.

In the following sections, we explore practical strategies to create a workplace that meets the demands of increased on-site presence.

General Technology Upgrades:

  • Assess your current IT infrastructure to ensure it can handle increased on-site usage.
  • Upgrade network capacity and bandwidth to accommodate more simultaneous users.
  • Implement the appropriate cybersecurity measures for a larger on-site workforce.
  • Deploy IoT sensors for real-time occupancy monitoring and space utilization analytics
  • Implement advanced AV solutions for enhanced collaboration and communication
  • Upgrade digital signage systems for improved internal communications
  • Install room scheduling systems to manage increased demand for meeting spaces
  • To learn more about our full spectrum of Workplace Technology solutions, click here.

Space Optimization:

  • Reevaluate your current office layout to accommodate more staff.
  • Consider flexible seating arrangements or hot-desking systems for efficient space utilization.
  • Create more collaborative spaces to foster teamwork and communication.
  • Ensure adequate quiet areas for focused work, as noise levels may increase with higher occupancy.
  • Integrate smart office technologies to monitor and optimize space usage.
  • To learn more about our technology design services, click here.

Security and Access Control:

  • Upgrade access control systems to handle increased traffic and enhance security.
  • Implement touchless entry solutions for improved hygiene and efficiency.
  • Review and enhance network security protocols to protect sensitive financial data.
  • Consider implementing advanced visitor management systems.
  • To learn more about Align's Security & Access Control, click here.

While hybrid work models remain popular, this shift highlights the need for adaptable workplaces. Businesses must balance the return to office climate with employee preferences and productivity needs. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being and operational excellence.

Been There, Done That

Align’s experience spans the many iterations of the office’s role to its professionals, including today’s of hybrid and full-time return-to-office scenarios. Throughout these transitions, we've helped countless businesses right-size their offices and optimize their technology infrastructure. As organizations navigate this new phase of increased office occupancy, particularly in the financial sector, Align remains committed to delivering tailored solutions.

Contact us to learn how we can assist in making sure your office is meeting the needs of your professionals.

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“Align is our trusted provider for all our Managed Services and cybersecurity needs. They provide us best-in-class IT services that not only help drive productivity and growth, but ensure we meet both current and evolving compliance and security requirements with ease. As consultants to financial advisors, trust and reliability are indispensable to our operations, which is why we never hesitate to refer Align to our very own client base. Align isn’t just our partner, they are an extension of our team. We look forward to entrusting them with our IT infrastructure for years to come.”

Ed Fasano - Experienced Advisory Consultants LLC