With the increased use of mobile technology – from cell phones to BlackBerries to PDAs – today’s knowledge workers can just as easily be “on work” while traveling, in the local Starbucks or in the office. We say “on work” because it more accurately reflects the way people are working today. There are fewer people at work in the office than there are people on work – or working – from multiple locations throughout the day.
Research Steelcase conducted a few years ago showed that people only spend half the day working at their desk. Other industry studies say workers are away from their desks 40 to 60 percent of the time. This change in the way we work today has a strong impact on the way organizations manage office environments. Traditional environments with rows of desks and cubicles no longer suffice. Work has changed, and as such, the workplace must change accordingly. How is it changing? A recent survey of Fortune 500 real estate professionals conducted by CoreNet Global, the Atlanta-based association of real estate executives, found that 65 percent of those surveyed have stopped providing an assigned workspace to at least 10 percent of their workforce. The percentage is expected to grow to 25 percent by the end of the decade.
Whether people work in dedicated “home base” stations or temporary “touch down” spaces, all aspects of the environment must support collaboration. Knowledge work today involves complex tasks and requires the thinking, opinions and ideas of a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Physical space that encourages this interaction between employees is critical and organizations must understand how and where employees spend most of their time.
Let Value Busines Interiors help you with these complex office place requirement whether it is at the office or at home.
Call 864-232-5377
Scott@vbisc.com