Office Environment

For years researchers have said that a businesses’ physical workspace affects productivity, job satisfaction and profitability. Duh! It is a good thing we had researchers tell us that. But few companies actually make the change to getting rid of cube farms, adding natural light and adding larger common areas. Today’s work style of collaboration and flexible teams is hindered by the old cubicles-and-conference-rooms format.

Most of us would like to get our hands on Bob Propst, of furniture designer Herman Miller, who introduced the first office cubicle in 1968. But then where would that leave Scott Adams the creator of Dilbert? He would still be with Pacific Bell in an office somewhere in the East Bay of Northern California. Dilbert designed his own ultimate cubicle - http://www.ideo.com/dilbert/index.htm. I am most fond of page 5.

What are some of the latest ideas and trends for today’s office environment?

It needs to be adaptable and collaborative. Cubicle walls need to be lowered to foster communication. Traditional cubes are too isolating, but the “open desk” system that grew popular proved to be too noisy. Companies can simply lower cube walls from six feet to four feet thereby affording privacy and visibility. Lower them and add some glass on top to allow light to pass through the room. And, studies show that passersby will speak more quietly if they make eye contact with employees in cubicles.

Natural light! Executives today spend a lot of time travelling and in meetings. Move the hard-wall or private offices to the interior of the building. Worker bees who sit at their desks all day are at the windows. With the open spaces created by lowered cubicle walls, the natural light will permeate the entire floor. In addition to a better physical environment, better worker productivity and retention, this will also lower heating and cooling costs.

Desks for visiting staff. Executives and others who visit different divisions of the company need open space desks with the capability to make phone calls, check e-mail, print, copy, scan and spread out the paperwork.

Sliding glass doors. Textured doors provide privacy for workers and also let the light circulate. They also don’t require the ‘swing space’ of a regular door.

Write-on/wipe-off walls and glass surfaces may be written on with write-on/wipe-off markers for instant brainstorming.

Paint. A study indicated that the old off-white paint makes employees "feel tired and directionless." The right paint color choices in the workplace can improve employee attitudes, increase productivity, and even reduce the number of sick days employees use. Use it as a unifying element of a company's brand identity. This also reinforces the brand to clients and others who visit your offices. It is relatively inexpensive and very effective.

Other Trends: standing meeting rooms (where the absence of chairs produces shorter meetings), open workplace dividers with built-in shelving and glass windows, and in-floor electrical outlets that allow for the easy reconfiguration of space.

Things to look for: Do employees bring lamps from home to avoid harsh fluorescent lighting? Do employees spend a lot of time in transit to meeting rooms, printers, copiers, and fax machines? Study whether the layout of the building is helping or hindering employees to get work done. Is an area always empty? Is an area overcrowded? Are workers competing for certain furnishings or equipment and not using others?

If employee retention and productivity, lower heating and cooling costs, increased job satisfaction and increased profitability are on your list of desired goals, then improvement of your businesses’ physical environment may help get you there.