Four key features of the office of the future (possibly)

Our recent research into The Future Workplace highlighted that the workers of the future will be ageless, collaborative, mindful and intuitive. Open and honest communication, transparent relationships between employers and employees, a focus on mental wellbeing and access to the latest tech will all become increasingly important if employers want their workers, and by extension their business, to thrive.

But how can employers ensure they have workers with the necessary skills and right attitude?

A good starting point is creating the right working environment for staff to thrive in. We take a closer look at what the workplace of the future might look like.

1) Death of the desk

Desks are where most of the important work happens, right? Think again. According to new ways of thinking, it’s the areas around the desks which are becoming increasingly important. Think diner-style booths or squashy sofas where workers can sit and brainstorm and relaxation areas where people can recharge their batteries.

In many large companies, including the BBC’s new offices, staff don’t have their own dedicated desks. Instead they are encouraged to hot desk so people move around the office and sit with other teams, promoting collaboration and the flow of ideas.

2) Open wide spaces

Increased collaboration is also the aim of another big change slowly creeping into workplaces – open plan offices. People are no longer holed up in tiny offices or cubicles only able to see the people they work directly with. Instead, walls are coming down and everyone, the boss included, sits in a big open space, encouraging communication, transparency and collaboration. And those companies which have taken the plunge are reaping the rewards.

3) Garden spaces

 The great outdoors isn’t normally something you associate with the workplace, unless you’re a park ranger that is. But increasingly nature is creeping into our offices in bigger ways than having a few pot plants dotted around. 

A recent survey showed that a garden space for meetings and socialising was at the top of employees’ wishlists when asked to describe their dream offices. The winning entry in the Workplace of the Future 2.0 Design Competition featured huge sky gardens aimed at reducing stress and a vertical farm where workers can pick their own lunch.

4) Ergonomic ideas

Workers’ wellbeing will become increasingly important to businesses if they don’t want to face hefty costs associated with employee absence. Small changes in the office will not only help boost workers’ health, they’ll show you care

Most office workers lead fairly sedentary lifestyles, at least for the 8 hours a day they are at work. And this can cause a whole host of problems, from back and shoulder pain to hand and wrist issues.

To tackle these issues, it’s likely we’ll see a greater variation in how people work, with standing desks and even treadmill desks becoming popular. For those who still like a seat, optimised work stations with ergonomic chairs and all manner of hand and wrist supports will become the norm.

 This article was supplied by Unum