Does your office or workplace have a reception area?

According to Collins dictionary, “reception” means the waiting area in a hotel near the desk or office where guests can book rooms or ask the staff questions.

With many offices either working in a hybrid way and not always fully occupied, is a reception area still needed? Many workplaces have also gone reception less, some stats suggest.

We ran a poll on LinkedIn asking if having a reception/area/desk within an office or workplace important?

Yes - 64%

No – 21%

Depends – 14%

So overwhelmingly, the results were yes!

According to Worklife.news, office designers are putting the reception area at the forefront. Turning this area into more of a welcome area than a sterile, scan-your-badge-and-go, is something that experts say will bring offices to the next level. But the human touch is critical in creating that atmosphere.

Why have a reception area?

You only get one chance to make a first impression as the saying goes. And a reception area or at least a presence and a desk helps you do just this, whether you are welcoming staff, suppliers, visitors, the Board or potential candidates.

Some places like gyms and co working spaces etc have done away with a reception desk or at least a manned one, but office, surgeries, places with waiting rooms do very much rely on them. As have many offices.

Why have companies kept their reception? A friendly face on arrival to a building is always nice. Human interaction is key for wellbeing and live receptionists can put visitors at ease right away, answer any questions they might have, and make sure that they get to where they’re going as soon as possible.

The office reception area sets the tone for your business, and making the right impression is important in any industry. Not only does a well-designed reception area make a positive first impression, but it also offers many benefits that can help to create a productive and efficient workplace.

When branded with signage, the company logo and corporate colours too, these aspects really can make an area pop.

Other benefits to having a reception include having a face for the company, offering a personal touch which is good for relationship building. And the person on reception can also support other teams and departments in quieter times

Unstaffed receptions can save money, give more space for other uses and reduce in-person contact, but are these benefits outweighed by having a staffed area?

What does a good reception area need?

Here are some examples – https://www.morganlovell.co.uk/insights/top-five-impressive-office-receptions

Most reception areas have a desk with a chair/chairs behind it. Plus, sofas or soft seating for visitors, coffee table, magazine racks, cabinets displaying items, artwork or/and signage, welcome mats and much more. Get some ideas on ranges here https://sygnus-uk.com/ranges/reception-furniture/