People are spending more time in the office and are seeking new workplace solutions in the built environment. The outlook for a strong labor market is expected and as such, high performing workers are demanding more comfortable and productive workspaces.
Making these spaces more attractive to a larger and more diverse population brings a variety of benefits to each other, the culture of an organization, and business developments opportunities.
There are several ways to evolve today’s workplaces to make them more accommodating, pleasing, and effective. Below are some ideas to consider for a more attractive and inclusive work environment.
Entry & Reception Areas
To make your reception area more inclusive, incorporate an open knee space into reception desks for people using mobility devices. The open knee space allows for a front approach and a subtle signal to people in wheelchairs, you are welcome here. Provide a variety of different furniture lounge options. A bench or sofa is a nice alternative. Also, provide a few lounge chairs with arms.
Avoid: Lounge chairs without arms and low seats. These are nice to look at but not especially welcoming and some people find them challenging to use. Prevent using area rugs that are thick and not properly affixed to the floor as they can be tripping hazards. Rugs work best if they are inset into the floor, to allow for even transition between flooring materials.
Conference & Meeting Rooms
Consider offering multiple types of meeting room chairs. Body sizes and types are different, so offering a variety of options in the meeting room can be more comfortable for diverse types of people. Individuals respond better to different postures so consider incorporating swivel chairs around the table and secondary seating areas.
This can be taller counter height tables and stools in back or side of the room to improve people’s views of the screen and promote more interaction. Plus, having space for people to stand during the meeting can be more comfortable. Prolong positions of sitting isn’t healthy. Look at incorporating bench style seating along the sides of the meeting room with a long banquette or sofa. Include arm rests to promote more comfort and barriers between people. Offering people a choice in what type of furniture to use is better.
Avoid: Conference rooms that are too small for the number of seats and proper circulation around the table. Think of space for two people to walk comfortably around the table. Plus allow proper space for markerboards to be accessible comfortably.
Open Work Areas
Bench style desks can be a helpful solution if your space has limited square footage and budget. Benching desks typically have limited storage, smaller worksurface area, and cluster workers together in groups of 4-8 people in a smaller area. Benching desks are typically in even number clusters with people facing one another while working, which can be distracting. Benching style desks without acoustic panels are challenging for focus and offer limited acoustics characteristics. Workers don’t feel comfortable sitting face to face to one another in close proximity, especially during cold and flu season.
Provide all desks with adjustable height, giving users the opportunity to work sitting or standing throughout the day. Offer 2-3 diverse types of desking options, such as 6×7 and 6×8 size workstations for people to choose the type of desk they want to work in to promote a better employee experience. Provide a range of storage and worksurface options. Workers need a place to store purse, lunch bag and/or backpack. Also, mix up and rotate the orientation to break up spaces and provide better sight lines and views.
Avoid: Large areas of open benching desks and workstations. These can be noisy and challenging for people on virtual phone calls. Break up the spaces or divide the open workstation areas with shelving to display personal items, accessories, storage units, and plants. Pass up tall furniture panels more than 50” high as they are costly to produce, and limit access to daylighting and views. Avoid placing workstations where workers will have circulation and high volume of foot traffic walking behind them.
Lounge seating
Provide areas with high back lounge chairs or places for people to step away from desking area and work. Lounge chairs with partial surround and soft surfaces can improve acoustics. Provide a small adjustable height table next to the lounge chairs so people can bring laptop, notebook, sketch paper and or some papers work on.
Position lounge chairs so they are in small groups of 2-3 and place some in single use areas. Single high back chairs in the workspace can be a good place to focus if positioned in the right area. High back lounge chairs work great for changing postures throughout the day. Plus, they can be useful if someone needs to step away and take a short personal phone call.
Avoid: Low poofs or ottomans in the open work area. They are often too low and can create tripping hazards.
Phone booths
I recently attended a global work furniture conference and lost count of how many phone booths were on display. One company themed out a phone booth with bamboo, tiki style décor and island style music playing inside. These little booths can be useful if planned properly. Consider the locations. They should be close to the work areas for easy access, but if located too close they will not be used much.
Also, consider the lighting and air movement. I’ve experienced some phone booths that are only good for short meetings, otherwise they become “hot boxes” and too warm. I’ve also seen some where the lights stay on all the time. This is not good for energy and carbon reduction. It’s important to consider the size. Its best if they are large enough for a wheelchair to enter and turn around easily.
Avoid: The phone booth models that are too small and include a step up to enter. This is not inclusive and will make people with mobility devices feel like they are being excluded. Plus, depending on local code requirements, they will likely require a ramp incorporated. Always consult local code requirements, some jurisdictions have additional requirements such as ramps and sprinklers integrated.
Standing Height Table Areas
It’s good to incorporate areas to stand up and work. Bar stools and bar height tables are often the first choice of designers. Until recently I have never really considered having trouble getting in and out of barstools and using bar height tables which are around 42”. A client mentioned she did not feel comfortable in barstools because her feet/legs dangle because they are too high for her. She stated it’s much easier to get in and out of counter height stools and use counter height tables which are typically at 36”. Plus, counter height tables and stools are less expensive to fabricate because they require less material and less weight resulting in lower shipping costs.
Avoid: Providing all tall barstools and bar height tables. They can be challenging for some people to use comfortable. Better yet provide areas with mix of counter and bar height furniture solutions. One size fits all solutions rarely meet the needs of people in the workspace.
Wellness rooms
Incorporate resting and meditation style furniture into workspace and small wellness rooms. These can be useful for short moments of respite. Recliners, rocking chairs and lounge chairs with ottomans are great for people to take a short break during the day. I recently tested a lounge chair solution with headphones playing spa like meditation music and low pulsing vibration incorporated into the lower feet and leg area of the lounge chair.
At first, I didn’t think it was practical for most work environments, then I realized there are more benefits to having a relaxation pod in the workplace. A typical workday can be a roller coaster of emotions, from happy and joy to anxious and stressful. Providing workers a place to step away for a brief moment of relaxation can change turn a negative day, positive.
Avoid: Putting resting or meditation style furniture near active and heavy use zones. Instead place them in more quiet areas because they will get used more often. Make it visible for use to everyone during the workday for brief moments of respite.
The Importance of Flexibility
I recently returned from a trip to Orgatec in Germany and a major take away, is that there is more focus than ever before on furniture that supports a healthy and sustainable workplace environment. Project budgets are smaller, and buyers are being more thoughtful than ever when it comes to spending. Selecting inclusive, flexible and useful furniture solutions will lead to a better more effective work environment.
In summary, inclusive furniture solutions can contribute positively to the employee experience and promote a better environment for a more human centric approach. Flexibility, variety, and choice are key for making spaces better for high performing workers. Inclusive furniture solutions can be aesthetically pleasing, improve overall employee wellbeing, comfort, and make workspaces more productive.
Editor’s Note: Amie Keener is Design Manager and Senior Associate at Gensler.