Office design and concepts have changed dramatically over the last decade, from segregated work stations housing employees in small single cubicles to open plan office designs which aim to eradicate barriers and remove independent, singular workstations. Open plan office concepts are strategic design projects that promote teamwork, creativity and company employees health and well-being.
- Portable Office Furniture
In an office environment you will find a variety of different individuals who all work together on a daily basis, each member of staff will have their own unique personality, but, most can be categorised into either extrovert or introvert people. Extroverts will like to mix and mingle, while introverts may work better on their own, having the ability to manipulate your setting and redesign the office floor will help you find a plan which best suits your workers. Portable fixtures and fittings can be easily moved to allow staff to work on projects independently or in a group setting.
- Designated Areas for Group Work
Many organisations employ office space designers to come in and revamp their whole working area, they aim to create specific themed zones which help employees become more creative and imaginative while at work, some sections are designed to imitate areas such as coffee shops where workers meet to discuss relevant tasks and projects in a collaborative setting. So if, for example, you require an office fitout in Melbourne, you should consider an open plan office contractor who will create a unique working environment in your building which enables your staff members to sit, relax, interact and brainstorm on some new and exciting ideas.
- Unconventional Seating Arrangements
There are a number of different ways to keep staff members happy and healthy during office hours, alternative seating is one of them, constantly sitting at your desk all day promotes an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle which can lead to various health risks, a good way of avoiding this is to redesign your office seating arrangement. You can introduce employees to yoga ball seats, treadmill seats, or simply larger seats, which force them to stand and move around more regularly, each type of chair is intended to keep them moving and promote a more active workplace lifestyle. Office workers become bored sitting in the same place for hours and need to move around, movement invigorates individuals and improves productivity in the workplace.
- Do Not Assign Seats
As mentioned previously, staff members have diverse personalities, so making them sit in designated chairs may be counterproductive, allow them to choose where they would like to sit when they arrive at work, some workers are more productive placed right in the middle of the office floor in the centre of the action, while others are better suited to quieter areas overlooking greenery. A flexible seating policy will allow autonomy and enable staff members to choose which area they feel most comfortable in.
All of the tips above are ultimately designed to increase productivity and employee output, an appropriately created office floor plan will do just that, having a flexible working environment will allow you to continually modify your office space to promote employee satisfaction and well-being.