December is almost over, and as the New Year is quickly approaching, many office executives are taking the time to reflect on how the modern workplace has changed. More importantly, we’re going to weigh in on if these two major changes are a good or a bad thing – because not all change is progression. Especially when it comes to office design that sacrifices efficiency for aesthetics.
In this article, our in-house team of modern office designers have compiled two big ways business has changed and their professional opinions on how effective these changes are today. #1. Goodbye cubicles, hello open plan layout Up until the early 2000s, many businesses opted for confined cubicle layouts within their corporate offices. The main intent of cubicle layouts was to promote more individualized and focused work and eliminate distractions. Traditionally, each cubicle enclosed a single employee and kept them separated enough from other coworkers to discourage socialization during work hours. While workplace privacy is still necessary in some forms, we’re glad to say goodbye to traditional office cubicles. Now, many modern offices are embracing the open plan layout which usually consists of one large, shared work area for the whole team. This layout is ideal for most businesses because it encourages collaboration between employees within the same department, as well as other departments within your organization. Effective collaboration not only improves productivity, but also promotes successful team-building. With this layout, you can have shared office benching, collaborative, lounge-style furniture or even the reinvented cubicles that house a small team of employees rather than just one. #2. Rise in flexible work schedules Remote work had always been considered progressive – or in a more negative connotation – lazy. Up until COVID-19 hit in 2020, many office executives were not in favor of remote working capabilities. Whether it was a lack of trust between employees, or the fear that productivity would slip, business owners feared that the state of their organization would suffer if they allowed the option for remote work. However, in the height of COVID-19, mandatory shutdowns gave businesses no choice but to allow remote working or flexible work schedules where different teams of employees would come in on alternating weeks. Fortunately, this opened the eyes for a lot of people regarding the benefits of flexible work schedules. Productivity soared for many companies because people were happier to spend a little more time with their families at home, which in turn made them want to be more productive at work. Not to mention, business owners were saving money on building operating costs with less people in the office. However, there is one downside to flex work schedules and that is a lack of connection. Some people went from seeing their coworkers everyday from 9am to 5pm, to not at all. Going from one extreme to another isn’t good either because it creates a sense of loneliness and uncertainty with where you stand at work which can create strain on your employees’ mental health. Throughout our experience designing workspaces for many companies post-COVID, we’ve found that the most successful offices are those that incorporate a hybrid working model, i.e. both remote working capabilities, as well as in person work each work. This allows employees to have that freedom and flexibility to be more present with their families, and keeps the bonds strong between core work teams. To learn more about how BE Furniture can change your workplace for the better in 2023, please give us a call today. Our in-house team of modern office specialists are constantly evaluating the latest workplace trends, technology and furniture to create complete business environments that solve issues within your organization. We not only design offices, we design cultures that promote employee productivity, wellness and connection. Visit our website today: https://www.befurniture.com/ The original blog is posted on - https://www.befurniture.com/two-major-ways-the-office-has-changed-over-the-years/
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It’s the end of the year, which means it’s time for performance evaluations. Whether that means rewarding team members that are performing above standards or discussing what has to change, ensuring your team is operating to its full potential is absolutely necessary for any business. While many believe these evaluations can be conducted successfully online, there are indisputable reasons why a face-to-face meeting is the way to go. In this article, our office design specialists in NJ will discuss why end-of-year performance evaluations should happen in the workplace – as well as how to create the optimal setting for these reviews to take place. Scheduled face-to-face interaction shows each team member that they are a priority In the world of daily Zoom meetings, having yet another Zoom call for a performance review can definitely feel less meaningful. Especially if you are one that usually keeps your camera off. Planning to meet in person sets a more professional tone. Think about it, if your team members have a flex work arrangement – this performance evaluation meeting will not be like the days when they are working from home. This in-person meeting is an opportunity to put their best foot forward in terms of appearance, conversation and presentation. They have the floor to show you why they continue to be an asset to your organization. Better gauge of each team member’s feelings. A lot can be hidden over the phone, and we don’t mean this in a malicious way whatsoever. There is just a big difference between the impression you receive over the phone versus how you feel leaving an in-person conversation. When you talk to someone in person, there are a few levels to the conversation. You’re hearing what they say, while also gauging how they truly feel from body language and facial expressions. Engagement is also higher during face-to-face interactions versus phone calls because you are eliminating external distractions. A meeting between you and your employee in a private office will make you both really focus on the conversation at hand – which will prove most helpful for the continued success of your company. Creating the optimal work space for end-of-year performance evaluations While many businesses have opted for an open plan layout in recent years, it’s still important to still have some rooms in your space that offer privacy. Whether it’s a conference room or an executive office, it’s important to have a room set aside to discuss private matters with your employees or clients. Year-end performance reviews especially should be discussed one-on-one with each team member in a private space. This is so your team members feel more comfortable confiding in you about their aspirations and concerns regarding their job performance and even the performance of other team members. Fortunately, there are easy ways to update your private office rooms to ensure comfort, privacy and more efficient collaboration. The ideal space to conduct year-end performance evaluations should include some (if not all) of the following aspects:
If you’d like to learn more about creating a progressive work space that includes developing private offices for year-end reviews, give BE Furniture a call today. Our in-house design specialists look forward to getting to know you, your business and your goals for the future – and incorporating each aspect into a comprehensive work environment that not only looks great, but is also designed to perform at full potential. Please visit our website to found out more about what BE can do for your office in the new year: https://www.befurniture.com/ The original blog is posted on - https://www.befurniture.com/why-performance-evaluations-have-to-take-place-in-person/ |
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