In many of our recent blogs and posts, we have talked a lot about and mentioned the changing face of the office and how this face is a friendlier one. Post pandemic, we are seeing a trend from our client enquiries and projects as well as reading pieces from the office interiors world about how employees are wanting and asking for a friendlier office space or working environment. And with talk of 4 day weeks and working from home remaining a thing for some, employers and business owners are needing to respond to this need and want and therefore approaching companies like Sygnus to help make this transformation. It is all about being inclusive and accommodating. 

In our industry of office space planning and office design, some workplaces and offices have always been more traditional in look and style with open planned spaces of bench desks, meeting rooms, reception areas for meeting and greeting and closed, smaller offices for management. There have also always been the more quirky and fun workspaces with bars, dart boards and soft seating. 

There is no right or wrong way to have your office designed, as long as it is fit for purpose, ergonomically sound and safe and that it also matches your company’s ethics and working ethos. But what else do you need to consider? 

Many of you as customers will know by now that at Sygnus we offer 4 core services. And these are: 

Project Management 

Office Design and Office Space Planning 

Office Furniture 

Office Interiors 

 

Over our many years working in and growing in this industry, we have built up a trustworthy, reliable and professional team and also a responsive and experienced network of contacts whom we work with to complete projects from office refurbs to office moves to redesigns. By calling upon this network, Sygnus can and does provide a one stop shop style of services to you our customers for all your office fit out and internal office needs. If we cannot do it ourselves, we know someone who can. Therefore we can always add value and be of service to you. 

With Schools and Universities returning, we are also pleased and encouraged to see a slowly but surely style return to offices and workplaces. We are pleased for many reasons as this could see a boost for the economy and the knock on effect this will have, signs of a more positive outlook and attitude and the hopeful lift for local and small businesses too. 

So what next for offices and workspaces? 

“Freedom day” as it has so been called is here, so what does this mean for a return to the office? Will people be going back if they haven’t already, or will it be business as usual or something in between? 

More than half (52%) of British people currently working from home say they are ready to return to the office, with the typical office worker wanting to go into the office between two and three days per week, according to a survey for facilities management firm Mitie. More than a third (35%) are concerned their offices are not Covid-secure and 60% think their employer needs to improve the office environment to prevent staff becoming ill in the future. The article for Personnel Today looks at 14 things employees want in their workplace and the list includes more space between workstations, reduced meeting room capacity, reduced office capacity, hand sanitiser everywhere and better ventilation. Read the article in full.  

Agile working is all about creating flexible and functional spaces to work and be productive. The concept behind agile working is that work is an activity we do, rather than a place we go. Do you agree with this? We wrote a blog on this about a year ago. It is about the cohesion of people, tech, processes, surroundings. Research says 36% of employees would prefer agile working over a pay rise. What it isn’t to be confused with is flexible working ... 

“Air quality will impact profits and productivity”. Improving air quality is not just the right thing to do in terms of public health but will also have a significant impact on business profitability and productivity, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). “The pandemic has thrust the issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) into the spotlight, and this is an opportunity to change things for the long-term good of the country and the economy.” 

Further to this, a poll has highlighted that contact with other people, for example, when social distancing is breached, remains the most concerning route for transmission, cited by half the population. More than one in four (26%) of Britons are worried about airborne transmission, according to research by services group, Rentokil Initial. 

Some time back, around 70% of office or office space were open plan. Is yours? Was yours? 

Could the return to the office see more open plan spaces or could it see closed off sections with doors, screens and other layout options? ... 

In today’s ever changing working world, being ready could mean almost anything. In our world and the world of office interiors and furniture, it means getting ready for the year ahead in terms of our space, our safety, and our surroundings. 

Some of you may be already back in the office. Some may be part office and part home based. Some may be permanently home based now. But there will be a lot of businesses like yours get ready to make some kind of a significant return in the new year, after the festive break. 

Biophilic design is an increasingly popular concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment. 

According to a report, only 42% of office workers report having live plants in their workplace – while an astonishing 47% lack any natural light. Indoors plants, quiet working spaces and bright colours were also highly desired by employees. As a result, introducing relatively minor biophilic design elements to an office or workspace can have an enormous impact on employees.