At CDI Spaces, our clients come first. As a partner to you and your business, we continue to closely monitor the impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we strive to ensure the health and safety of our collective employees, clients, and communities.
Guest Post by: Eric D. Johnson, Senior Workplace Advisor, Allsteel
To call the atmosphere we’re all working in ‘chaotic’ feels a bit understated at this point. With an underlying concern about our own and our communities’ health, we’re also moving, literally overnight, into a place where working together is being discouraged and working from home is being considered the ‘new norm’. All this uncertainty and change can be really difficult to manage and get through successfully. So we hope these tips and best practices will help alleviate some of the stress and make it all a bit more manageable.
It starts with creating a learning environment that is not only physically inclusive but also facilitates academic growth and success. Learning styles and teaching strategies also need to be adapted in kind so that students with special education needs are empowered to learn alongside their peers and contribute to the class in beneficial and constructive ways.
Two major drivers are changing the ways that we work in the 21st century:
Technological advancements and the shift towards the Agile Workplace.
As technology continues to evolve, organizations look to develop and deliver workspaces that are aligned with the new ways we work. Sterile cubicles and inefficiently designed offices are making way for inviting workspaces that allow for collaboration and flexibility.
Since the modern worker now spends more than eight hours a day, sitting and now even standing in the office, it only makes sense to strike a harmony between health and work. So often now, people are wearing the badge of a workaholic as proudly as they wear their favourite work outfit. Health, in its own right, has been seen as a separate entity and outside of the normal work conversation – when, in fact, it should be front and centre. Employees that eat, move and practice sleep strategies are key to a healthy office and workforce. Healthy employees are happy employees – and studies show that happy employees are productive employees.
As open workspace concepts replace traditional office settings, more and more businesses look for solutions to address the challenge of noise issues and disruptions that follow close behind. In order to provide productive and happy environments for their teams, walls came down to encourage opportunities for collaboration and camaraderie. However, some might argue that the absence of walls only added more distraction than productivity. For every team member who appreciates the ability to collaborate with their neighbour, there is another who sees open workspaces as a fishbowl – and hinders work performance.
Depending on the audience, you will most likely get different opinions on whether or not it’s worth it to invest in a standing desk. It’s a lasting fad that has been gaining momentum in favour of its benefits to overall wellness. Sitting down for more than eight hours a day – even as much as four hours a day – comes with its own risk of negatively affecting health, and in turn, your overall life expectancy. As emerging statistics cite sitting as one of the unhealthiest things to do at work, most businesses are open to the idea of keeping their workers healthy – and productive.
As workspace design trends skew toward open-concept office layouts, more and more companies embrace the added benefits that come along with it. A concept popularized by tech start-ups, it is renowned for its unconventional approaches – from team breakout spaces to rooms designed to balance visual and acoustic privacy. However, companies also rave about the hidden value of an open-concept office layout: their teams thrive in work environments that encourage collaboration and creativity.
As the modern worker spends more time in front of a screen and under dim and excessive lighting conditions, research evidence is indicating that eye strain and visual stress problems are also trending as a workplace issue. Getting ahead of this curve and offering workers solutions for reducing eye strain can do more than keep your team clear and focused – it also helps keep an eye on your bottom line.
The modern worker cares about their workspace – key perks might include open plan designs and unconventional breakout spots, or consciously syncing it with a healthy lifestyle. They want to work for companies that care more than just staying competitive in their industry – they want to work for companies that also care about keeping their workers healthy and productive.