Sumeet Mahajan is the Managing Director at Artizen Interiors Pvt. Ltd. An industry leader, he comes with an experience of about two decades. Sumeet’s expertise lies in architectural design, project management, and comprehensive planning. A person with keen acumen, Sumeet believes in evolution, and his skills have helped in the brand’s growth in the space.
Today’s workplace design trends are shifting away from purely aesthetic appeal, fusing beauty and functionality in unique and intriguing ways. Many contemporary workspace designs aim to boost employee productivity and performance by enhancing cooperation, attention, and efficiency in changing demands. A well-designed workspace promotes a less stressful and more efficient work environment.
Employers must consider the physical work environment of their employees as they tend to prefer open workspaces rather than be constrained by cramped workspaces. Employees must feel at ease and tranquil in their physical work environments to accomplish their best work. The employee experience is at the forefront of today’s era, ensuring a favorable work environment. Hence, the world’s leading companies have taken this philosophy to heart, tackling it as one of their core initiatives. They strive to design innovative workspaces based on employee feedback and proactively experiment with floor plans, connecting employee satisfaction, workspace satisfaction, and productivity. Current workspace design trends emphasize the adjustments required for the workforce.
Here are some ways that modern workspaces may encourage and motivate employees:
Flexible workspace:
With the changing work culture, a flexible workplace that allows employees, projects, and companies to adjust to changing demands appears to be a solution. Furthermore, flexible working space will enable employees to move around or change their settings and can boost their motivation, productivity, and more.
Employees expect a flexible working environment from their employers, with technology continually allowing more mobility to be dynamic in the workplace. With flexible furniture and workspaces, integrating new technology is more accessible, resulting in a more durable workspace. Flexibility, modularity, and convenience are now paramount for collaborative, team-based work styles. Movable furniture, for example, that can be combined in a variety of ways, provides for a more active, engaging environment.
Ergonomics in workspaces:
An ergonomically designed workspace profoundly influences worker productivity since it fosters awareness cooperation and, most importantly, offers a secure and relaxed atmosphere. Correct ergonomics may minimize muscle soreness, boost productivity, and decrease the risk of musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) and Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs), which are the most commonly mentioned causes of absenteeism. In today’s workplace designs, the utilization of proper ergonomics is seen as vital with office ergonomics like office furniture, technology, type of lighting, and the ability to control room temperature leading to increased employee well-being.
Employee wellbeing in the workspace:
Many organizations place a high value on workplace designs that promote well-being as they’ve also been shown to reduce stress and encourage productivity. Biophilic components, such as natural materials, light, greenery, and vistas incorporated into office design, can, for example, increase employee wellness, productivity, and creativity. Workplace designs that encourage mobility during the day, such as sit-stand workstations and strategic positioning of endpoints, improve general employee wellbeing, including minimizing back, neck, and shoulder pain. Employees would be more effective if workspaces such as privacy pods and quiet zones devoted to resting and de-stressing were available. Employees may utilize these spaces successfully while alleviating various health and wellness concerns, including eye strain, backache, stress induced by excessive computer usage, and emotional wellness.
Blended workspace:
The office has evolved from the traditional monotonous cubicle design to an open and functional area that fosters employee interaction. The blended workplace consists of modular workstations with several adaptable features. Blended workplaces combine private, semi-private, and open workspaces that cater to different work styles and tasks. Often these contemporary offices have many common areas, conference rooms, open-air breakout areas, and casual sitting areas.
The following are the most typical forms of blended spaces:
Lounge space: The lounge rooms are comfortable spaces that give employees a place to rest, read, check communications, or even work on their computers and an area for brainstorming. Traditional lounge rooms may include a comfy sofa, a chair, a recliner, or even a hammock.
Client Zones: These are the areas within the active/ dynamic space where employees may congregate with clients to discuss business. Client zones are frequently included in office architecture to offer the client an understanding of their company’s business, ethos, and work dynamics.
Multifunctional Workspaces: Conference rooms, project rooms, huddle spaces, and unassigned workstation seating are examples of multipurpose spaces that provide easy-access choices for employee engagement.
Collaboration Centers: Organizations can boost engagement and productivity by equipping collaborative zones with suitable furniture, acoustics, and technology. As teams shrink, smaller collaboration zones are in high demand.
Technology in workspaces:
In the aftermath of the pandemic, employees will require more flexible, adaptable, and connected workspaces that can be achieved by upgrading the workspaces with technology. IoT-connected sensors attached to furniture, such as motion sensors and foot traffic trackers, may offer office owners and managers an overview of daily operations, allowing them to measure productivity and change the layout to match workers’ demands as part of the redesigned workplace. Virtual conferencing and conference tools between employees and clients will continue, allowing technology to affect corporate operations and initiatives significantly. Modern touchless technology and a built-in mechanical system will provide optimal environmental control, including motion sensors when entering restrooms or turning on the faucet or soap dispenser. In addition to motion sensors and facial recognition on doors, mobile apps that allow for ordering and controlling the elevators and AV systems will also be incorporated into the workspaces to ensure employees feel safe and comfortable.
The resurgence of the workplace is here to stay. In the long run, embracing a human-centric, well-designed contemporary office will result in more productive and happy employees. Modern workplace design plays an essential role in employee health, well-being, employee satisfaction, and performance by offering spaces to employees to unwind and recharge. It is undergoing rapid change owing to new employee generations, technological advancement, and an increased understanding of how design affects the workplace. As a result, businesses must innovate, revamp strategies, adopt, and evolve to sustain.