Trends. You either love them or hate them. Just look at the fashion fads– like bell bottoms – that came and disappeared without much of a pining from us (Well, depending on which era you come from). We look at some of the trends shaping business today and their implications on the office.
1. Green theme
Green is in. And yes I don't mean just the colour. Environmental awareness is catching up and it's so widespread from eco-bags to green buildings, you simply can't turn a blind eye to it now. Larger offices now have some form of greenery at least planted inside. Buildings now recreate an indoor garden such that tenants or staffs do not even have to step out to get some fresh air. There's also the push towards making sure furniture and furnishings are made with less harm to the environment. Products with green labels or certifications will be making their presence more keenly felt in the office.
2. Flexible work arrangements
More and more companies are opting for work-life balance by rolling out HR initiatives like flexible work arrangements for staff. On top of this, employers are finding that it makes economic sense in the uncertain business climate too. It not only saves manpower cost but in terms of real estate, it frees up the space and cost of putting up an employee full-time. This thus opens up opportunities for employers to cater to hot desking or mobile workplaces. Traditionally for staff like sales people who are out of the office most of the time, these hot seats are now catered for staff with mobile work arrangements.
3. Social media networking
The advent of social media has seen more people interacting with others via their computers and mobile phones than in person. In business, it has also progressed to be indispensable for communicating with staff, customers, and other stakeholders. Though social media can help to connect with your peers, face-to-face communication still has its place. To foster an open culture, offices are now more open without high barriers like partitions and walls. Screens or glass replace walls and partitions and people are clustered more together than before. Spatial plan is also fluid to promote interaction.
4. Shaped by technology
Technology is the workplace's biggest invention; especially if you work in an international set-up. Staffs connect with overseas counterparts through video conferencing, skype, and msn. Bump spaces like small open areas for people to have short meetings or discussions with one another are now favoured. These complement the formal meeting or conference rooms for longer, confidential discussions.
5. Away to staid and stuffy work culture
It's not just the design or creative services firms that chase after creativity. Companies like engineering or logistics also need a spurt or two of creative juice to be innovative in their business. And we know that ideas and ingenuity counts in this competitive market. Reports show that employees thrive more in a fun environment than a pedantic one. Offices incorporating such elements like play/recreation rooms etc are able to let their employees let loose more and thus perform better.
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