The New Normal Office
The way we conduct business has changed over the last several years. It started with the COVID pandemic, continues with global supply chain issues, and will evolve as we move forward. Most of the country has dropped mask mandates, companies are starting to require in person work once again, and meetings of all sorts are returning to in person events. This change for all intent and purposes is what we have been aiming for the last several years. We are returning to life as normal, with some technological driven upgrades.
The Return to Work
A major trend in the pre-Covid modern era of office design revolved around open plan work spaces. These open concepts promoted the sharing of ideas freely throughout the office and focused on limiting barriers and walls. Covid has directly changed the way we want our modern office set up. We now want work areas to have the ability to social distance and we want separation to prevent large groups of people spreading germs for no reason. People now want a space where they can feel comfortable and they do not have to hear or see every time a coworker coughs or sneezes. Technology has also evolved to make this possible. Team members can always have a chatroom open where they can say or text ideas at any time with ease. This makes the sharing of ideas simple, easy, and possible over distance. This leads to the question, is your office set up for the future?
If the answer is no there are a few simple changes that can be made to upgrade a prior design. If you have a large workroom with very little separation you can upgrade it by adding in some protective screens. The market for this type of product has been growing over the last several years and there are many options available. You can get barriers that mount to existing furniture pieces or you can get portable walls that dampen sound and can be used as dry erase boards, chalkboards, or cork boards. There are all sorts of options out there.
In Person Meetings
The business community has seen an increase in in person meetings over the previous years as the world returns to normal. However, these in person meetings have been upgraded as well. The digital frame work that was created to help us meet when working remotely still exists and can be used to include more people into modern meetings. Equipping your traditional conference room with a video screen and camera is a great way to get the best of both worlds. A company can hold a large meeting where two branches work in their respective conference rooms while video conferencing with the other branch. This can be set up to include a limitless number of individual rooms to make a large conference even bigger. Blending in person meeting styles and the digital platform can only increase the inclusion of people involved in a large project. As you get more comfortable returning to everyday operations at your company spend a few minutes thinking about your current conference room set up. A few upgrades can help take a functional space to the next level.
Cleaning
The focus on running and maintaining a clean work space is crucial to the image of any modern day company. No one wants to enter an office of any type where they get the impression that sanitation is not taken seriously. This is why the state of your reception area is crucial to your office. Can your waiting areas be cleaned easily and quickly? Cleaning a fabric waiting room chair is difficult and more time consuming compared to other upholstered items. Vinyl, Polyurethane, and Silicone upholstered seats can be cleaned simply with a single disinfectant wipe. Fabric seats do the job, but they require vacuuming to get cleaned perfectly. Additionally, how clean is your conference room, break room, and office areas? In a work environment where there is a labor shortage an employee’s perception of their surroundings can make a huge impact on retaining a quality work force. Cleaning a lunchroom twice a week is no longer good enough. High touch areas like cafeterias and restrooms require a lot more attention. Facilities to wash and sanitize our hands are important and the overall perception of any office is dependent on these factors. So, as more and more employees return to the office more often it is important to spend some time to ensure our spaces are set up for success. That means the area is clean and easy to keep clean.
Every challenge we face as a society changes the way we work. These changes can be minor or major and there is no way to predict what the future will hold. All we can do is modernize with the times and do our part to ensure we stick to the trends. If you think your office needs some updating do not be afraid to speak up or ask the boss if anything can be done. If you have any questions about modern office furniture trends ad styles feel free to contact us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com.