FOCUS STORAGE
Out with the old and in with
the new – this expression is
becoming more and more relevant
when talking about the furniture
and accessories that sculpt our
o ice spaces. Over the past 20 years
we have seen computer, mobile and
internet technology develop rapidly,
which has enabled sta to work
flexibly around any workspace.
Collaboration spaces are now
designed into o ices alongside areas
that stimulate employees to be more
active when working. The working
spaces themselves are created with
flexibility in mind. In short, the ability
to pick up your laptop or tablet and
move to another desk or workstation
in a matter of seconds exemplifies the
modern o ice.
So, the need for big clunky desks
and partition walls is slowly becoming
a thing of the past as businesses move
towards more flexible open-plan
workspaces. But is every part of the
o ice environment adapting to this
change in working practices?
Traditionally, the average o ice
worker would spend over 245 days
of the year at their desk, and their
workstation was therefore furnished
with everything they needed to do
their job.
In a traditional single-use
38 MARCH 2019
desk space, you are
likely to find letter trays, pen
cups and note blocks on the
desk, and a large cumbersome
drawer unit tucked underneath.
Along the walls you’ll see large
filing and storage units which
don’t fit into modern workplace
design.
For as long as the concept
of paperless o ices remains
a pipedream, there remains
a need for somewhere to store
paperwork. With growing concerns
about security and new legislation
around data protection, secure
storage for confidential documents is
more important than ever.
Similarly, workers still need practical
tools to do their jobs. Simple items
such as pens, paper, charging cables
and USB devices need to be stored
somewhere – and not all of these
items can be shared. In a recent study
by Raconteur, only 56 per cent of
workers stated that they were satisfied
with the level of personal storage
available to them in their workspace.
So, although businesses are moving
towards agile workspaces, are they
really furnishing their employees with
everything they need to do their jobs?
WORKPLACES AND STAFF MORALE
We know that our working
environments have a huge e ect
on us. We’re aware that sitting at a
desk all day has a negative impact
on a person’s health and wellbeing.
But did you know that 85 per cent
of workers feel that the design
and layout of their workplace is
important to them, or that 57 per
cent believe that a well-designed and
modern o ice helps improve their
productivity and creates an enjoyable
atmosphere in which to work (‘What
workers want’ report by Raconteur).
It’s clear that employees value
the working space they inhabit, and
that it has a significant impact on
their e iciency, daily enjoyment and
motivation. However, not all sta are
happy with the transition to agile
workspaces. While their tools aren’t
changing at the same pace as the
rest of the environment, the need for
them will continue to hold back the
transition from old to new.
So how can businesses keep their
sta happy?
New solutions are being developed
to bridge the gap between the
traditional and modern workplace,
enabling businesses to fully
embrace new working trends while
maintaining productivity and sta
morale. Manufacturers recognise
the need for flexible furniture and
equipment to help workforces
embrace agile working. Luctra, for
example, produces desktop lamps
which sta can control using an app.
Regardless of where they choose to
sit in the o ice, they can take their
lighting preferences with them.
Manufacturers of workplace
products are proactively
analysing the gap
between the tools
workers have and
the tools they need.
Super-flexible solutions
are being developed
by workplace product
manufacturers such
as Durable – a German
company that specialises in
innovative concepts to meet changing
work trends. Sean Starkey, Managing
Director of Durable UK, comments:
“In the last 12 months we have
seen a real spike in the demand for
flexible storage that will help aid agile
working. We introduced our range
of Varicolor Smart O ice solutions
back in 2014 to help prepare us for
this change in the landscape of
workspaces.”
A wide range of ultra-flexible
solutions is now available to
the modern o ice worker.
Lightweight desktop drawer
sets, for example, are set to
replace the need for big, clunky
metal drawers. These solutions
may be more functional than
traditional floorstanding units
with colour-coded drawers
to aid organisation and lockable
drawer options allowing confidential
documents to be safely stowed away.
Small, stylish job cases enable
employees to take familiar
accessories such as pens, notes and
charging cables from workspace to
workspace. The employees retain
ownership of their working tools,
and the cases protect their items in
transit.
These new flexible solutions are
helping businesses to transform a
workspace into a vibrant modern
o ice, and encourage agile working
and collaboration to flourish.
FLEXIBLE FRIENDS 6am 5ylands of DuraEle eSlains how Ɯ eiEle storage solutions are helSing
emSloyees to adMust to the new era of agile working