Here at Modern Office, we’ve gathered insights into how adapting your office can affect employee well-being, productivity, talent retention, and more. Since the events of last year, we have considered the most important trends of change for 2022. Companies around the world are adopting more sustainable practices, technological innovation is driving change, and a human-centred focus on employee well-being is shaping the way we live and work. As our office design experts respond to these signals, you'll want to keep up to date with the top 5 office design trends listed below.
As a global community, we are increasingly aware of our impact on the environment. As companies, we must do more to reduce our carbon footprint and build a more sustainable future. So it's no wonder that sustainable design methods and materials are a huge office design trend in 2022.
Flexible workspaces have been around for a while but have come of age recently. Living in times of uncertainty, the only way companies can prepare is to ensure and encourage flexible working practices so that they are ready for anything. If you want your business to continue attracting top talent, it's time to invest in this trend. It's time to think about how you can use your space to encourage different ways of working. Since many employees still choose to work at least part of the week remotely, only a fraction of your team will need to go to the office on any given day. So, instead of giving everyone an individual desk, design an office with bookable open workspaces, flexible non-reservable areas, activity-oriented workspaces, and modular furniture to accommodate a floating workforce. Giving employees different places to work based on the type of work they do gives your team more control over their work experience, increases productivity levels, and increases engagement.
Another cultural shift in office design in 2022 has focused on creating a workspace where safety and employee empowerment take precedence. The pandemic has once again reminded us of the value of individual employees and the importance of their health and well-being to the productivity and profitability of any business. Now that companies are truly taking the mental and physical health of their employees into account, the office design industry is taking notice. Anti-Covid safety measures such as integrated social distancing, flow management, handwashing stations, hand sanitiser stations, and readily available PPE help alleviate any concerns employees may have about attending work. Employees are becoming more demanding of their workplaces, and rightly so.
Smart workspaces can use digital sensors to monitor and respond to factors such as occupancy, air quality, daylight levels, and more. Smart buildings can collect and share data, allowing companies to better understand when and how different spaces are used. This is a very powerful office design tool, especially important in the context of social distancing and safety. A closer relationship with technology can also help us move forward in our return to the workplace - thermal imaging systems and proximity doors can allow employees to move easily around the workplace.
While this year will undoubtedly continue to change the way we look at work and the workplace, one of the biggest changes in the office is that it is no longer just a place with a desk, but a destination in itself. For many employees accustomed to working from home for months and limited opportunities for social interaction, the workday has become an event, a refreshing opportunity to meet friends, get inspired, meet, collaborate, and connect. This trend will lead to an increase in office design patterns that are strongly associated with the hospitality and leisure sectors. This new emphasis on shared service and expertise will be another way for companies to attract and retain top talent.
Talk to us today about the modern needs of your office and how we can support change and growth.
We're all fairly entrenched in the work from home or remote working lifestyle now, but as we slowly revert back to pre-pandemic life, are we seeing the office coming back? According to the Office sentiment survey conducted by property and investment services company Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in December last year, it seems that the office is still very much alive, and Kiwis still love their second home!
In the 21 months that have passed since our first lockdown, the pandemic has created a rapid shift in working and living patterns. Employees have adapted to working from home in compliance with health and safety guidelines and revealed an appetite for greater flexibility and hybrid ways of working.
The objective of JLL's survey was to understand New Zealand's sentiment towards the office from the perspectives of employees, occupiers, and landlords. 218 responses split between employees, occupiers (employers) and property owners reveals the office will be more important now than ever before as the centre of the work ecosystem, and that outstanding office environments will remain a critical way to engage employees.
As we all return to a sense of normality, we'll see more people return to their old ways of working within an office space, but with a few permanent changes to provide more flexibility and nimbleness.
So what changes will we see in the future and post-pandemic office? The office market is now defined by strong collaboration. Throughout the pandemic, owners and occupiers have worked together to maintain tenancies with initiatives like rent relief and fit-out incentives.
92% of owners have provided assistance to their occupiers during COVID-19 while 39% stated their number one priority was to meet occupier needs, fully supporting our views that strong collaboration provides the best outcomes.
Flight to quality is an ongoing trend. An increasingly competitive labour market has seen the office become a means of attracting and retaining talent with occupiers offering premium fit-outs in premium locations.
Increasingly, employees are becoming more vocal on their workplace expectations. This creates an opportunity for employers to gather this information and create an environment to assist their attraction and retention strategies. The majority of employees (85%) believe that the quality of office space and the location for ease of travel are now the two most important workplace environment factors.
While factors such as amenity, building considerations and end of journey facilities are important, if the location of the workplace and quality of space are inferior, this will have a detrimental impact on employees and potentially lead to higher attrition rates. Workplace trends are showing us that collaboration spaces and ergonomic furniture options are becoming an expectation in today's workspace.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 66% of employees said they had some form of flexible work options. Flexibility has become more widespread across the workforce with 87% now having the opportunity to work in a more flexible manner and the expectation is for this to continue.
The pandemic has only accelerated the change of the flexible working model, as many employees were already offered similar working environments. When looking at what type of flexibility was being offered, the hybrid working from home model is the most common with 55% employees saying this is currently offered, with the use of collaborative space being the next most common offering.
For a large part of the workforce, working from home presents challenges - lack of a dedicated workspace, interruptions, and social isolation. As a result, 49% of respondents do not want to work from home on a more frequent basis, implying that the office continues to be an important location for these employees and productivity being equal in both locations. Approximately 30% have not changed their views about working from home versus working from the office, with the remaining 21% wanting to work more from the office. The low proportion of people seeking to work from home on a full-time basis (2%) illustrates the importance employees place on face-to-face collaboration, social interaction with colleagues and learning through osmosis.
When employees were asked to rank what would be the most important option to them when they return to the office after lockdown restrictions, the top option is consistent with the ideal working week for a hybrid work model including remote working options, and then increased levels of cleaning and the third priority being less dense workspaces. These employee preferences are useful intelligence for occupiers (employers) in conjunction with property owners to consider offering the optimal flexible workplace environments for the employees.
As part of the survey, occupiers were asked, if you could make one change to your workspace then what would that be? The top two categories, both at 31%, were to re-configure for more collaborative areas and modernise the workplace covering better lighting and air-conditioning which will assist a more efficient office for a positive impact to the environment, which supports the third option of environmental changes.
At Modern Office, we specialise in commercial furniture and giving office spaces a new lease on life. Our team can take care of all aspects of a project, delivering the client the finished result with less hassle. Whether you need a full office fitout along with floor planning and design advice - or whether you just need to upgrade a few desks and chairs, we're here to help.
Modern Office is proud of this full service which they've perfected over the last 15 years and our team, with a number of successful projects under our belt. So if you need to get your organisation workplace ready again, get in touch to discuss your next project today.
With the new year comes new opportunities. Opportunity to change, to grow, to start anew. New Year’s resolutions are usually set for personal change but Modern Office is here for your business needs. And what better way to start a brand-new year than with a brand-new office fitout? We’ve previously outlined the steps to fitout success, so with 2022 just around the corner we’re here to help make a new fitout a reality. And you can start today.
If you’re planning on taking your business to the next level next year, visualise what the coming year looks like for you and your team. Where do you want to be and how will you get there? Now, map that road out on paper or in your mind. Whether you see small changes or big ones, we can help implement those changes. We are specialists in providing that end-to-end service of change, from design and scoping, to delivery and installation of high-quality furniture items, so it could be anything from a few key pieces to an entire office refresh.
Here at Modern Office, we don’t believe in limits. As the business world develops and adapts, so must your organisation to be successful. Each aspect of a business must align in order to achieve success. Does your current office align with your business's brand and values? Does it allow you to achieve your goals over the next several years? A space with a fresh look and functional furniture has been proven to improve productivity and boost morale - and we’ll help you get it right. Our furniture range is suited to a number of solutions for your work environment, from breakout spaces, collaboration furniture to quiet and focused rooms, we’ll have something to suit your way of working.
Here’s our five step plan:
Step 1: Understanding your business and what your goals are.
Step 2: Translating your practical needs for the space into a specific furniture plan that reflects these requirements.
Step 3: Using your identified needs and taste to produce recommendations that inspire staff and cement your brand’s aesthetic.
Step 4: Delivering and installing your items with speed and efficiency.
Step 5: Providing ongoing support to guarantee you’re content with the fitout and it can evolve with your business
Change could be just around the corner for your commercial or designer office. A vibrant new workspace can enhance your brand amongst your team and customers, and boosts staff retention. Kick 2022 off the right way - if boosting business is for you, contacting our team is a good first step. Get in touch today.
Is your organisation geared up for remote working?
Amidst the uncertainty that Covid-19 is causing, many organisations are navigating through what is likely to be some challenging times ahead. Remote working is at the top of the list for many organisations and we’ve compiled a list of the key things that may help your organisation in implementing successful remote working.
The companies that are open with their concerns and plans are the ones that are going to garner support from their teams. This is not a time to keep your staff in the dark; in fact expressing concerns and bringing them on the journey will make them feel appreciated that you’re including them in the conversation - however hard it may be. And if you do have staff working from home, ensure regular communication and routines are maintained with them via weekly meetings.
Morale is likely to be down over the next few months and for good reason. Every news report is portraying doom and gloom, causing natural worry about job security and the future. If your colleagues are working from home, this concern could be exacerbated if they’re not included and kept in the loop with team plans. To keep people accountable and maintain contact, ensure you touch base with your staff once a day to check in and do your best to keep their spirits up! This could be through a WhatsApp or Facebook group, and maybe to share something light-hearted once in a while. And finally, encourage your staff to maintain their health by exercising and eating well (sound advice regardless of pandemics)!
There’s nothing that should hold a company back from successfully having their staff work from home in this day and age. Many companies are transitioning to the cloud for easy access outside the office. Technology such as Zoom, Skype and Slack are commonplace and simple to set up and will keep you talking to your teams regularly. Logging all your tasks on a platform such as Trello and Monday will also help keep things on track and maintain accountability and communication. If required, have someone on point as your technical support if things go wrong, so you can ensure things are running smoothly and productivity is maximised.
Many employees aren’t set up to work from home. Sitting at the dining table or on a bed might sound like a good short-term plan however if the remote work spans across weeks or months, you’re likely to get health complaints of a different nature. It goes without saying that a dedicated workspace like a spare room is ideal so that you and your team can focus on the task at hand, minimise distractions and leave work behind at the end of the day. Invest in a good chair and desk setup for staff to avoid back pain and provide lumbar support. And instead of staff having to hunch over laptops, consider the use of smart TV screens that many households have now, or desk-mounted monitor arms. Monitor arms allow for smooth, effortless tilt, swivel and height adjustment for different monitor viewing positions which can reduce neck pain and eye strain.
These times are certainly trying but there’s a number of things your organisation can put in place to keep things ticking over, the first of which is keeping your team feeling safe. If you would like advice on how we can modify your current workspace or enable your staff to work from alternative locations to make things a bit easier, feel free to contact the best office fit out company in New Zealand.
Workplaces are changing and with new ways of working come exciting new office layout and furniture designs. Innovative companies are leading the way in modern office trends to create a dynamic and collaborative workplace and help attract and retain successful high-performing teams.
The most successful modern businesses are looking for furniture designs that create a stimulating working environment that staff and clients appreciate. Here are some tips on modern office design ideas to watch out for.
Today's office needs multi-purpose spaces with versatile quality furniture that can be utilised for everything from multimedia presentations to casual breakout areas. Well-designed modular furniture that can be mixed, stacked, and moved around is quickly gaining in popularity.
Among the most sought-after office design solutions is help with removing wires and clutter from desktops and meeting rooms. At Modern Office you'll find smart furniture designed specifically with cable caps and cable trays to minimise the mess, helping to keep the workplace look clean, simple, and well organised.
Finding ways to incorporate nature into the workplace is a trend businesses can't afford to ignore. From living plants to nature-inspired patterns in seating fabrics, and wood finishes on office tables and desks, we love that light, clean, natural Scandinavian look.
The modern office environment is all about encouraging more interaction which is why large shared tables are making an appearance. Office furniture that's relaxed and collaborative is what every modern business is looking for.
It turns out sitting down at a desk all day can be really unhealthy - some movement is the key. So it's not surprising there's been a significant shift toward incorporating height-adjustable tables and desks for standing meetings into office interiors.
