Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-01-21 Origin: Site
So far, we've all heard about 'disruptive' industries. But what happens when the office environment (e.g. noise) affects employee productivity due to the trend towards open plan offices?
According to the International Facility Management Association, 70 per cent of offices in the US have open floor plans. In addition, Gallup's State of the Global Workplace shows that only 11% of employees are engaged and inspired at work, while 63% have been removed and left and are therefore uninterested in the overall performance of their company. One of the reasons for their dissatisfaction is because of their work environment and the fact that that environment includes an open floor plan.
Although the concept of the open space office was designed to promote communication and teamwork, it is increasingly distracting. Being open and accessible to employees has become a source of pressure for some and spontaneous collaboration for others. After several years of employees voicing their concerns, companies are now beginning to take notice. The trend is now to design office chair pods for placement in such open spaces to create private environments where team members can come together to collaborate, or by individuals seeking privacy to get work done.
There are 4 reasons why office chair pods, such as the Bondi Escape, may be the solution to the challenging open floor plan of a dynamic office environment
One of the reasons why employees reduce the number of tasks they complete in open spaces is the feeling of overstimulation or sensory overload. When people, especially introverts, are overwhelmed by too much noise or activity, they become distracted and therefore unproductive. The facts are the facts and the science says that no matter how much we want to think we are multitaskers, we can only really focus on one thing at a time to do it well.
To maximise an individual's working time, they should be given the opportunity to focus on the task at hand without being distracted by the noise of an open plan office space. Here, office cockpits can provide the ambience to reduce distractions (studies have shown that this takes place every three minutes) and increase efficiency.
When you want to meet established or potential clients and where to conduct final meetings with colleagues, the meeting room is the natural first area to have privacy. While the room is ideal for large groups of just 2 or 3 people, the long conference tables make any meeting seem out of reach. Connecting on a smaller individual scale allows for greater dialogue, focus and collaboration.
According to several studies, the number one reason people are concerned about the open concept is privacy. This applies not only to traditional office spaces, but also to healthcare organisations and higher education institutions. Whether online or in the office, we are always immersed in "socialising", leaving little time for the individual. Collaboration is a great thing, but sometimes you need to get away from the conversation.
So, privacy can mean different things to different people. It may mean that we need time to unplug from a long meeting, focus on a task, have a private conversation, or just some time to quieten ourselves down without distractions and interruptions. Office seating pods turn one of the biggest complaints about open spaces into the ultimate solution.
Let's face it, there will never be an ideal space where everyone can work in harmony. Custom designed office seating pods for environments with a variety of settings can benefit those who want to engage in open collaboration, those who need to work in teams and those who want to work alone. It's about creating a floor plan that encompasses these needs while maximising the workflow of the people who inhabit it day in and day out.
After all, we spend 30 per cent of our lives at work. Should we have the flexibility to combine collaboration and privacy to allocate our time when needed?
