In the competitive world we live and work in, businesses are always looking for ways to stay ahead of the game, having the latest technology, claiming to be the founder of a new trend, or offering clients the “wow” factor their competitors can’t. This mentality extends past the products they provide, and into the way they conduct their business as well. Company productivity is the motor keeping a successful business running, and the efficiency of workflow from one person to another is becoming a big influence behind office design. It’s called the alternative workplace, and it’s becoming a popular trend in today’s modern design.
The alternative workplace design breaks the mold of traditional office practices introducing new methods of integrating employees and workflow effortlessly. It has been described as the high performance workplace that ensures an interactive environment through the use of cubicles with shared meeting tables, common area desks, multiple seating configurations, and even public storage stations on wheels. Even further, the mail and copy rooms have been eliminated and replaced by electronic devices used on mobile credenzas throughout the office.
A work environment like this draws employees into group settings with an informal feel that encourages people to engage in conversations, contagiously fostering innovation and originality. This same design, however, also invokes unwanted conversations, ability to be distracted, and a lack of privacy.
Designing a workplace should accommodate the way employees work and embrace your company’s brand. The alternative workplace has introduced a new concept that creates a company culture integrating multiple statuses and roles in a collaborative fashion. But it’s important to know the goals hoped to be achieved when deciding what this type of workplace means for your company. Not every department or firm can expect to benefit in the same ways from a layout with this degree of interaction. It’s easy to be drawn to new trends because of their popularity, but consider how an alternative workplace design would fit or maybe disrupt your current company clients and productivity. Maybe it’s more detrimental to the way your departments functions to have people constantly flowing in and out of their work area. And if your motive is simply to save money on real estate with an open plan design, it still may not be the best option for your business.
Even with these concerns in mind, you should try to take advantage of the different ways to stir up innovation within your workplace. There are multiple ways to design a workspace that combines the collaborative environment of the alternative workplace while incorporating the specific needs of different workers through customizable Ethospace solutions. Sliding privacy doors, hi-lo or open panels, T-shaped stations, etc. are all options for employee workstations that can provide the best of both worlds. Even further, each station can accommodate an employee’s specific needs without forcing the same set up on a co-worker who works in a very different way. The one thing the alternative workplace doesn’t consider is that the collaborative environment doesn’t work for every employee or circumstance. Not everyone can be productive in a buzzing work environment where the only options for silence or privacy is to plug earphones in or take their work home. Evaluate the diverse needs of your employees before jumping on the latest workplace trends.