Big Organisations Leading The Way

Whether or not this work style becomes the norm is up for heated debate. A Boston Consulting Group study showed that 75% of employees who have worked remotely, are at least, if not more productive on task-based work as they were beforehand. But, although the BCG report spins it as a positive, only around 50% say that they are at least as productive on those collaborative tasks that normally would be performed in conference rooms. So, perhaps we will see a split emerge based on tasks and collaboration.

Whatever the arguments, organisations such as Google and Microsoft are spending huge amounts on reconfiguring their workspaces to accommodate this new hybrid era. In the UK alone, Google has budgeted £730m for this two-year project – no small amount - so is obviously taking things seriously. The company sees the need for a less dense work environment – more space, fewer people at any one time – as well as dedicated areas for collaboration, covered outdoor workspaces and ‘inclusive meeting rooms for hybrid working’. It anticipates its workforce eventually returning to the office for three days a week – which is probably a model many other companies and employees will be comfortable with.

The new look office may need a new term to describe it. We’re suggesting ‘resicomm’ or perhaps ‘resicorp’– part residential, part commercial or corporate: we’ll let you choose. But essentially, the workspace itself and the furniture within it will mimic the benefits of home working, whilst retaining a working atmosphere where stuff must get done.

What will a hybrid workplace look like?

So, what are the key aspects of workplace design, furniture and tech that will ensure this hybrid environment succeeds and is effective?

Certainly, the very Victorian way of working, with serried rows of desks in big open-plan spaces will fade and disappear. That old stalwart, the hot-desk will have a resurgence, but there will be far fewer desks in the office. There will also be spaces designed for teams, for collaboration, learning, socialising and for focus. Research has shown that unstructured collaboration, away from the meeting room, is a key for business success, so organisations will need to provide the environment that fosters this kind of working. Perhaps outdoor spaces and comfortable furniture will blossom, reminiscent of the homes many of us have worked from for many months.

Technology and The internet of things

Tech will proliferate and be far more integrated into the spaces and even the furniture. Rather than having to partake in Zoom, Meet or Teams sessions from your desk, it’s far more likely that there will be dedicated areas for these meetings, with large, eye-height screens, one for each remote participant, to mimic a real-life meeting. High quality projection equipment and cameras can provide participants with good quality images, as lifelike as possible.

Technical solutions may also be used to measure utilisation. Furniture is an increasingly valuable asset for businesses and analytical tools embedded in the furniture can help managers identify usage and keep areas optimal.

PLN Group recently carried out a study with Silverdale School, where sensors were embedded into the furniture. The project was designed to understand students’ time on task as well as discover which pieces of furniture were popular and which were not - even which parts of multi-person furniture were popular. On one bench seat which had four squabs, it was found only three seating positions were regularly used. Further investigation revealed the fourth seat was more exposed to view from teachers, whilst the other three were partially hidden from view.

Expect this kind of functionality to be far more integrated into technology platforms in the future, within the strictures of privacy considerations of course.

Words by Paul Bondsfield