How we conduct our business has changed to match the technology we have. While the cubicle farm was once considered to be the most efficient way to work, a new generation of leaders have emerged. Not only are they asking why we do business they way we do, but can we do it better. They aren’t afraid to try new things and experiment with current designs. Above all else, they’re taking in what their employees are telling them, because in our modern world we need a company that, from the foundations to the top, is filled with happy, productive, and creative people.
Cutting out the Cubicles
When you say the word office to most people, they think of the endless rows of dull colored cubicles that were the standard for years. While the intention was to lower the amount of distractions, the result was that employees would feel alone, stuffed in a box away from the rest of the world.
Most modern offices offer layouts that are more open, which more employee input, choice, and collaboration. With an open layout, people can either find a quiet spot that they can sit and concentrate or they can work in a more relaxed lounge setting.
Between cellphones and laptops we’re able to do the same job without needing a huge space to do it in. Whether your coworker is on the other side of the room or the globe, you can now get them that file they need within seconds via email rather than having to run to the cabinets and search through them, hoping they were even put in the correct place.
The Importance of Going Green
The well being of the employee is one of the newer thoughts when it comes to designing and constructing an office space. Knowing that people need light and clean air to thrive and work their best, plants are often incorporated into the design, giving the space a much more relaxed feel. Plants don’t just look good, but they help purify the air and reduce stress, a major help while working.
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Flexible Hours
Most modern businesses have come to understand that their more valuable, and creative, team members simply don’t do their best when they’re stuck in the typical 9-5, Mon-Fri schedule. As a result, the rules are starting to change as productivity is placed over tradition. Managers that give employees choice in when they come in find that, despite some coming earlier and some later, all are coming in feeling more rested, relaxed, and prepared for their day. Employees have been given more flexibility with their workload and deadlines as well, not meaning that they have none, but that they’re given the work, a basic deadline, and are told to check in regularly, and from there the employee is able to prioritize and work on their assignments based on what works best for the personally. Some people may be able to wake up when the birds start singing, but others need a bit more rest. Deadlines are never forgotten, rather the work being done is more efficient and productive than before.
Keeping it Casual
Rather than focus on the fashion, modern businesses have been putting their time and effort into their new ways of working. While tattoos were once taboo in offices, currently they’re no longer such a struggle to have, as modern leaders have come to understand that creativity and uniqueness can be beneficial, and either way it isn’t going to distract from the work. While the modern style has changed, this shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of standards. While day to day attire may be more relaxed, workers still know to put their best foot forward when meeting with clients.
This is great for employees because they can spend more time thinking about their work and less about if their clothes look alright. People who get to work in comfort and without feeling constrained will feel much better in their work.
Let the Light Shine in
People were meant to be outside, moving about and getting some vitamin D. One of the worst complaints about old offices were the horribly harsh fluorescent lights that were pretty much standard issue. While modern offices haven’t done away with artificial lighting, they are taking steps to allow more natural light in the office. Architects are taking steps to allow more light into buildings now, not only do they make large windows, but their designs also account, as best as they can, for the different angles of the sun throughout the year.
This helps to lower the rate of depression amongst workers, especially during the winter months when the days are much shorter and some workers only see an hour or two of sunlight per day. When natural light isn’t available, offices are using the next best thing, switching from the classic tube lights to bulbs that do a much better job at mimicking natural light. These aren’t just good for your employees though, as modern bulbs are designed to last longer and use less electricity, which is great for your bills and for the environment.
Befriending the Environment
As business continues to grow and evolve, leaders and designers are coming together to design offices that not only feature the latest in technology but also the latest innovations in green architecture. These spaces have various design features that let them cut down their carbon footprint as well as saving money on utilities. Some examples might be using solar panels or installing vertical gardens that can act as shade.
The furniture is also a point for decorators, as they’ll often work to use recycled and sustainable materials. Another recent push is for more minimalist offices, seeing as we no longer need the filing cabinets or bulky wooden desks. Our modern offices resemble friendly lounges far more than the cubicle farms of old.
Recreational Options
The new generation knows the value of recreation and managers know that happy workers are productive workers. It’s not uncommon to see TVs and video game consoles in some offices now and workers find it to be a great way to both burn off steam and interact with their coworkers. The basic idea is that if people learn to communicate in social and recreational settings, they will more efficient as a team.
Our new generation is also more concerned with their health, so full gyms and exercise facilities are also commonly provided when an employer is able. Healthy workers are much less likely to get sick and thus less likely to get their coworkers sick. Given this means your employees aren’t taking off on sick leave constantly your productivity should increase. Smaller businesses have been known to partner with local gyms to reap this benefit for themselves, offering free, or at least discounted, memberships in their benefits package.
Providing Better food
Many people want to be healthy with their food choices as well. Now that we understand that heavy foods, which are high in fat, can create tired, sluggish staff who are unable to focus after lunch, employers are taking action. Managers have listened to their teams and are now offering them much better dining options. One of the recent additions to menus have been the gluten-free and vegan options, since these two in particular have picked up in recent years. With real chefs now creating high quality food, the older cafeteria look is going out of style. On top of this, rather than go out to get lunch employees are more likely to stay and enjoy the provided food while spending time with their coworkers.
Open door Policies
This is both literal and metaphorical. While the old way of doing business was to have a set chain of command where the leader only spoke with his managers and the bottom line team had very little if any contact with them. With the new open designs come more open working conditions, and the leadership is now becoming more involved. Collaboration is key in modern industries, and managers are learning to listen to their employees more. Teams are left feeling like they have a say in what happens to them, and that their feelings and opinions matter. They’re able to safely speak up when they think of or need something.
The other side is that the open layout also encourages this idea. Bosses want to be more than just the boss, and so they often leave their doors open now, trying to encourage employees to feel comfortable with approaching them, and to bring about a sense of unity and cooperation that they never got when they were the feared head honcho over the mentor who cares.
Silent Spaces
Whether it’s a deadline or just the need to take a few minutes to find your center, we all need to unplug and sit in silence for awhile. Designers have begun to include these quiet rooms in their designs, allowing whole teams to just sit in silence while they work or relax. They try to give them a tranquil feel, even going so far as to offer lower light. This was once thought of as some novel idea, however it’s been seen that these spaces result in less stress and higher employee satisfaction.
Working from Home
With the invention of the internet, and then subsequent improvements on it, today’s offices sometimes aren’t an actual physical place, but rather the term represents the collective of people working together from across the world. We’re now able to hold our meetings and transfer paperwork around all in an instant, just from our phones and computers, without the need of being actually face to face with the other person, all thanks to modern applications like Facetime or Skype. More and more people are now choosing to do business on their terms from the comfort of their own home.
For those that seek a happy medium, smaller businesses that need regular meeting space or freelancers who need a more structured environment to work in, several places have come up with a solution. You don’t have to get a long term contract to rent a space, now you can do it by the day, even the hour. These places often have many of these modern traits we spoke about earlier. There is a whole host of spaces included within these, and while they may have an area that resembles a modernized cubicle, they’ll likely also have an area with open tables, a quiet room, and a few other in between options. Small businesses benefit in a lot of ways, including that they only pay for the time they use, and when they need to meet with a client this professional and welcoming space is a great way to meet a client.
Offices will Continue to Change
While it might be scary to think, we were still using typewriters 30 years ago. As technology continues to change the world, it will continue to change the way we do business. These spaces are no long just a densely packed set of cold cubicles; now they’re bright, open, and have provided some great coffee and tea options to be enjoyed while working or on break.
Sure the space has change, but the idea of an office, a place where people come together to work and grow, has not. Your business is unique, so whether you work in a by the hour office, from home, or in the Sears Tower, you can expect the space you use to be just the same.
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