8 key elements of a great place to work
According to a study by Steelcase, the UK has by far the most entirely open office configurations anywhere in the world (49%), which is more than double the global average of 23%. The UK also ranks as one of the lowest countries for workers who report being able to concentrate easily and work in teams without being interrupted. Workers also say they are less likely to be able to choose where they want to work in the office. It is clear that the lack of a range of spaces in our UK offices is taking a toll on worker engagement and satisfaction. High real estate costs have driven the UK to open plan offices yet there are many ways to transform the open plan office to amplify the performance of people, teams and organisations.
Here we list our key 8 elements of a great place to work.
Here we list our key 8 elements of a great place to work.
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1 Acoustic pods
Why build walls and meeting rooms when there are so many great acoustic pods available on the market? They are quick to install, are easy to reposition or move with you to pastures new and can save a significant amount in construction costs. Acoustic pods are the meeting rooms of the future – less expense, less footprint and more flexibility, which is why they are top of our list of 10 key elements of a great place to work.
FACT: In some open-plan offices, noise ranges from 60 to 65 decibels which can make cognitively demanding work difficult. |
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2 Personal Pods
One of the biggest causes of stress in the workplace is noise. Personal pods provide space for quiet focussed study time or important confidential client calls, both of which are needed for your employees to do their work to the best of their abilities. There are many choices on the market that can easily be incorporated in your existing office space.
FACT: 58% of high-performance employees state they need more quiet at work, and 54% simply find the workplace full of too many distractions. |
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3 Railway carriages
Railway carriages are a strong feature in the agile workspace. They provide a more relaxed area for impromptu meetings and collaborations. There is still some level of acoustic control throughout the open plan office with railway carriages, but with much more visibility and inclusivity.
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4 Media Tables
Many of the booths and railway carriages can be set up as media centres – offering a great space for training staff and brainstorming ideas to improve the company. Some suppliers offer the option of inbuilt tech booking systems, allowing the media centre to become an integral part of your office meeting spaces.
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5 More flexible desking
Fixed desking that is occupied 9 to 5 is becoming obsolete (not to mention an incredible expense for companies as floor space prices rocket up). The agile working environment incorporates hot desking (some with great technology that leads you to an empty desk to work) as well as more informal workstations and height adjustable desking. All of these have been studied and show a great improvement in productivity and staff morale.
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6 Collaboration Tables
1/3 of workers in 17 of the world’s most important economies is disengaged, according to new research from Steelcase. Providing different areas for engagement is such a key part of the workplace and collaboration tables are ideal for impromptu meetings, informal working and team building sessions. They are available at different heights, bringing choice to workers as well as being visually pleasing to the eye.
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7 Café seating and teapoints
The employee of the future is looking for a softer, more relaxing café environment, with accomodation at both table and café height. The introduction of smaller café teapoints throughout a space is also becoming more commonplace. This allows smaller gatherings and more workplace connections over the morning cup of coffee.
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8 Biophilic office design
Numerous studies have proven that by introducing elements of nature into the workplace, staff productivity, creativity and morale have all increased. A recent Human Space report highlighted the fact that workplaces who have introduced elements of nature have witnessed a decrease in the levels of mental fatigue among staff members and an increase in levels of workplace wellbeing.
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If you’d like to know more about transforming your workplace, get in touch today:
