Under the pressure of an increasingly competitive business environment and significant changes in the way people work, attracting and retaining talented employees is more difficult than ever. Employees are not only looking for competitive salaries, but also demanding work environments that foster personal growth, satisfaction and connection. In this article, Epione explores the secrets to "remaking" the office, turning it into a special place to retain employees and help organizations thrive in these challenging times.
Is Work Remote continuing to be a trend?
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable shift in how employees and companies approach remote work. While many people seem to prefer working from home, others are looking for a job that offers flexibility in choosing their workspace.
A study cited in Steelcase magazine said: The majority of workers expressed that they would rather spend more time working in the office than at home. Home is where they can do familiar, less important tasks that are repeated every day. It shows that many workers want to have a connection with colleagues, which is the exchange of information and emotions when working.
Today, employees expect the opportunity to work remotely as a perk, and many companies are listening and responding to these demands. While many business leaders initially did not see a need to change their policies during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, 87% of leaders globally have now changed their minds and expect flexibility in where, when, and how they work.
In a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) - one of the world's four leading auditing firms - said: The office is still here, but its role will change. Less than a fifth of CEOs said they want to return to the office before the pandemic. The rest are wondering how to consider a level of flexibility with the option of working from home. Only 13% of CEOs are preparing to leave the office forever. Meanwhile, 87% of employees said the office is very important because it is a place for them to build and connect with colleagues.
Proving that, despite the changes, the office still plays an important role for both businesses and employees. But are all offices today still “up to date”?
Is the office helping employees be creative or “burying” creativity?
Modern or traditional office?
Workspaces play a more important role in our lives than we often think. Especially in office environments, space can be a source of inspiration or a cause of buried creativity and productivity.
According to research by Steelcase - a world leader in workplace design and thought leadership, up to 77% of employees have to sit in a pre-arranged way. This often leads to them feeling confined in their workspace, which can affect their creativity and work performance.
But the more striking figure is that 87% of them spend between 2 and 4 hours a day looking for another place to work. This is not only a waste of time but also a valuable opportunity to develop ideas and creativity.
Not only does the work space affect the mood and health of employees, it also affects their performance. A bland work space can leave employees feeling unmotivated and unable to express themselves. This can lead to a loss of breakthrough ideas and the ability to innovate, which is important in a competitive era.
With 87% of employees looking elsewhere to satisfy their creativity, organizations need to rethink how they organize their workspaces. They may need to create diverse and flexible spaces that encourage interaction and creativity, and ensure that employees have the right environment to develop new ideas and drive progress.
In general, paying attention to the workspace not only increases employee performance but also helps promote their creativity and development, and at the same time, retains them in the organization. This is an indispensable factor for any business that wants to succeed in the current period.
5 Suggestions for Changes to Make Your Workspace Better
To improve your workspace and create an environment conducive to employee creativity and performance, there are a number of guidelines and changes that can be implemented:
1. Create a diverse space to stimulate creativity
Diverse workspaces, stimulating creativity
Design your workspace to include a variety of spaces, from meeting rooms to individual workspaces, relaxation spaces, and team work areas. This allows employees to choose a workspace that suits their tasks and moods.
Make the space fun and interactive: Use decor, color, lighting, and other design elements to create an engaging and creative workspace. Encourage social interaction and communication by placing desks close together or creating meeting spaces.
A small change in the interior can help you interact better with your colleagues. Using a lift table instead of a traditional office desk is an example. You can adjust the table height together to suit your sitting or standing needs to discuss work, creating interesting ideas.
2. Pay attention to branding elements in design
Office design is the best way to express your brand. Using colors, logos, images, and brand messages in your workspace helps create a strong identity and connection between your company and its employees, as well as with customers and partners.
In addition, the office is a place that reflects the company's culture and helps employees feel like they belong to a special place. A work environment that reflects the company's values and goals can promote unity and motivate employees.
3. Focus on emotions and connections
Focus on emotions and connections between employees
A connected and emotional workspace promotes interaction between employees. This creates an environment conducive to conversation, collaboration, and promotes more effective communication. Good interaction improves teamwork and consensus.
An emotional and connected work environment demonstrates the company’s concern for the development and well-being of its employees. Employees can feel important and valued, leading to long-term commitment and engagement with the organization.
4. Encourage creativity and self-management
Companies should try to ensure that employees have the time and space to work on personal projects and foster innovation. Encourage them to participate in decision-making and manage their own work.
Encouraging creativity in the workplace enables employees to develop new ideas, solve problems and contribute to organizational innovation. This can lead to the development of new products and services, improve work processes and help organizations compete more effectively.
In addition, this factor means encouraging learning and personal development. Employees have the opportunity to learn and develop new skills on their own, which provides them with opportunities for advancement and growth in their careers.
5. Cozy, quiet
Equip booth for quiet work
The most obvious benefit of a quiet workplace is that it helps your employees focus on their tasks without being distracted by noise from the surrounding environment.
Ambient noise can be the sound of typing on a keyboard, pulling chairs, lifting tables, etc. These seemingly small factors can be very distracting for employees. Companies can arrange work booths, private rooms, or equip them with comfortable and quality furniture.
A cozy and quiet working environment can create a better quality of work life. Employees feel that they have an enjoyable and comfortable working environment, which helps maintain a balance between work and personal life.
In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all model for the perfect workspace, and it is important to design the space to fit the specific needs and values of the organization. By listening to and understanding what employees want, organizations can create a workspace that promotes greater satisfaction and productivity.
Hopefully, the ideas and guidelines above will help you transform your business workspace into an environment that fosters creativity and growth. Take the time to make the necessary changes and embrace the positive changes in today’s world of work!
