How to create a workspace your employees will want to work from
How to create a workspace your employees will want to work from
Post-pandemic, the way people work (and want to work) has fundamentally changed. Across every industry the concept of hybrid working and enabling a truly flexible approach to working from home, the office, or anywhere, has taken hold – meaning big changes for traditional workspaces.
As businesses assess their space and how they want their teams to work, understanding the best way to re-imagine the workspace to attract people back to the office has become increasingly important. What can be done to support this hybrid model, while tapping into wider workspace trends? Trends such as:
- Supporting greater collaboration as well as ‘personal space’
- Technology driving and enabling the work anywhere culture
- Employees wanting to choose where and when they work?
The challenge, of course, is in accommodating a range of needs into existing (or future planned) workspaces. Then there’s the question of ‘how?’. A business might well see the need to transform offices to improve productivity, aid recruitment, and boost employee wellbeing, but they’re often not sure exactly what can be done to facilitate these changes.
Every client we work with at Form Workplace Solutions is always wanting to get the best from the space they have. To get you thinking about where to start, here are our top recommendations and practical suggestions.
1. Open plan, open minds
Any space, irrespective of its dimensions, becomes transformed when you open it up. Not only does it instantly feel bigger, but by removing partitions and rethinking the desk, storage, and workspace layout, it’s also possible to create a more dynamic flow of people through it.
Allowing more natural light further enhances the space, making it feel instantly more welcoming and relevant. It’s also an important first step for:
- Inspiring a more open, collaborative working culture
- Demonstrating a commitment to mental wellbeing
- Cutting back on the cost of artificial lighting
2. Introduce collaborative hubs
We can all appreciate what’s needed to get people thinking, sharing, and working together. That doesn’t include the traditional approach of ‘stack em’ high’ (packing in as many desks, phones, computers, and people as possible). Instead, as many of our clients are now demanding, the emphasis is on creating spaces that have no other purpose than to bring people together. Once this goal is set, ambition can truly open up:
- The look and feel of each space should be free from conventional ‘corporate’ constraints, and be opened up for funkier, more human-centred design that helps to relax people and stimulate creativity
- Bring the outside indoors, with these hubs potentially defined by borders made from nature (biophilic design featuring plants and flowers etc.) that helps soak up ambient noise
- Enable more ‘splash down’ seating that encourages those using the space to just inhabit it and get busy working. Think large sofas, small scale (soft) amphitheatre seating etc.
- Let technology play a role, with glass boards for brainstorming, pull-down screens for presentations etc.
3. What are employees looking for in an office?
There needs to be a reason for your employees to want to come into the office and expectations have evolved. Here are some key considerations to think about when looking at how to create an appealing workspace:
- Employees now expect the ability to seamlessly transition between remote and in-office work. Ensure your office space supports this flexibility with hot-desking options and easy-to-use booking systems
- With increased awareness of mental and physical health, employees are looking for workspaces that prioritise wellbeing. This could include quiet zones for focused work, meditation rooms, or even on-site fitness facilities
- As remote collaboration tools have become more sophisticated, employees expect offices to seamlessly integrate with these technologies. Ensure meeting rooms are well-equipped for hybrid meetings and that the office Wi-Fi can support increased video conferencing
- Many employees, particularly younger generations, are increasingly concerned about environmental issues. Consider implementing green initiatives in your office design, such as energy-efficient lighting, recycling programs, and sustainable materials
- While remote work offers flexibility, many employees miss the social aspect of office life. Create inviting common areas that encourage informal interactions and team bonding
In summary
With change comes opportunity. A truism that certainly applies to the transformation of the workplace, as many businesses look to encourage a return of employees to the workplace – via the hybrid model – while striving to keep them happy and productive.
Design plays a central role in this. From quiet zones to full-on team sharing spaces, getting the layout, environment, and decoration right is increasingly going to prove make or break.
What helps is having an expert on call to guide your decisions, and for detailing what’s practical for the space you have available – before designing and implementing on-demand. An expert like Form Workplace Solutions.
Related blog
See also our blog, Reducing noise in an open plan office where we discuss reducing the impact of noise in your workspace and how to create the ideal acoustic environment!
Form Workplace Solutions has a highly experienced design team with a long track record of bringing innovative concepts to the office; and as a registered supplier with the Low Carbon Workspaces initiative, we can also ensure new innovations are delivered in the most cost effective way possible.
We’re bursting with ideas on how to bring future office designs to life. If you’re looking for expert know-how and practical support, then get in touch by contacting Alex Ryan on 01494 464686 or email us at info@formws.co.uk.
