A Look at the Workplace in 2014

deskNow that the new year is officially underway, and we’ve had some time to reflect on 2013, we can begin to look into the office trends that will define 2014.  Businesses are growing and changing, and we’ll start to see that certain common aspects of their design and work style will become more and more incorporated in companies of all sizes and industries.  These designs reflect the the significant changes that have been developing in the workplace over the past year and have made individual and group working styles more effective, and simply, more fun to look at.  Let’s take a look at some of these trends and how they’re going to transform 2014.

Consolidation 

Space saving is becoming a bigger focus in all types of offices.  People are working in smaller spaces, but companies are finding the most efficient ways to do so that won’t affect their productivity.  A lot of this has to do with the fact that more and more people are working together in collaborative groups, but the most significant detail of this trend is that these designs have provided employees a close-knit working environment without sacrificing their personal space either.  Workstations have become smaller, cutting a foot or two from each side for the ability to cover less area or add more stations.  But their design has changed to incorporate a collaborative way of working and eliminate the closed off feeling of a smaller space.  Systems furniture has been a big component of this trend.  Herman Miller Ethospace is a popular example since it’s frame and tile system creates a flexible option for redesigning various workstations to mold to specific employees.  Tiles can be moved or replaced with glass, set up as windows, incorporate doors, or built to fit more than one work surface or storage unit.

The Changing Significance of Private Offices

Going along with the trend above is the increased exclusiveness of the private office.  Since employees are found increasingly in systems furniture, private offices are more rare and tend to house mainly the C-level position employees. These larger, isolated office areas are reserved for the big decision makers where privacy is more utilized, and there’s more necessity for extra guest seating and meeting tables. The employees in these offices are owners of the biggest spaces in the building.  The amount of real estate you have in the office is more directly related to title now that systems furniture better maximizes the space reserved for other employees.

Flexible Work Days

Here, flexible doesn’t mean people are working less.  Employees are working just as hard as before, if not harder, but due to technology and the various new methods of communicating and conducting business, people aren’t tied to one spot for days on end.  Video conferencing and other advancements allow people to meet despite being on opposite sides of the country.  This increases the importance of meeting spaces and the use of these technologies in the workplace. A lot of offices are touchdown spaces where individual work can be performed in between site visits and meetings, but  now employees are no longer only productive if there face is lost in a computer screen all day.  Granted, these workspaces are still just as important as before, since they must functionally reflect the needs of these various responsibilities to make everything else work.  For more and more employees, these spaces serve as an important home base, so that they can plan their schedules, reach out to clients, and organize their duties.

Office Furniture That’s User Friendly 

We all know what ergonomics are by now, but 2014 only holds more exciting office furniture elements that increase productivity for the user.   Chairs are being made in various sizes to suit the body types of users while adjustments continue to help employees work more comfortably and productively.  Exercise desks are increasing in popularity as office health becomes more of a focus than ever, and mobile furniture now allows for flexibility in the storage and set up of different spaces.  Office furniture applies to cubicles as well.  And again, this is because the these systems can be designed to suit individual worker needs, while some jobs need their offices less than others.  So the different furniture being used by each employee suits their specific tasks each day.  Say goodbye to uniformity, and hello to productivity!

We’re Getting More Creative

As a lot of these work style trends become popular, technology and other office equipment must be reconsidered.  Laptops, mobile credit card processing, and smartphone technology have allowed employees to work on the move and work more quickly, so more traditional methods will just restrict certain employees in a competitive, changing industry.  In addition, since employees are in smaller spaces, there is more creativity in the use of the extra space.  The use of the conference room has taken different forms since it is no longer solely for large, formal meetings, but for brainstorming and collaboration.  Showrooms, libraries, coffee bars, lounges, cafes and other resources have also been incorporated to make offices more like home to their employees.

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For ways to improve your office space, check out how EthoSource can help you design a great-looking office that fits your company’s work style.  Our pre-owned options are an eco-friendly solution, but look like new through our refurbishing program.  Check it out!