Flexible working is integral to the motivation of staff in a landscape where new technologies are continuously reshaping the way we work.
Chris Booth is the managing director at fit out and refurbishment company Overbury and he believes firms need to take an alternative approach to office space to adapt to the changing times.
Writing for HR Magazine, the expert explained that generation y workers are beginning to dominate office spaces and are the most likely to be adept at social media and new technologies.
These new technologies improve staff collaboration as mobile workforces, office-based employees and home workers all have greater access to communications that enable them to interact with one another.
Mr Booth called for offices to be redesigned so that they reflect the lifestyles and expectations of a more tech-savvy workforce.
He wrote for the publication: “Offices are human environments; they need to be designed with people, to work for people, and to meet their ever-changing needs and motivations.
“I predict the rise of the super-flexible workspace: environments designed to be entirely adaptable to suit a workforce and marketplace in constant flux.”
The expert drew attention to changes at PriceWaterhouseCoopers that saw employees log in to a central system each morning to be allocated a free space in zoned business areas.
As a result, office spaces are more dynamic as employees sit next to a different colleague each day, increasing their exposure to a number of people in their departments.
Still, Mr Booth argues that not enough firms are being this innovative and listening to employees about the best way to make use of invaluable office space.
“A well-designed space will impact staff engagement, morale and productivity, improving retention and enticing new recruits,” he wrote.
Improved workspaces have the potential to improve staff concentration as they feel more comfortable in the office.
Recent research from ComPsych showed personal relationship issues were the biggest distraction for workers.
