Though working from home had its benefits, like more autonomy and the ability to work in our pyjamas, there’s one thing we’ve all really missed about the office: our colleagues. We’ve missed working in-person with our teams and the opportunities for chance interactions.
Now, after 18 months, more and more people are heading back to the workplace. Office occupancy rates have hit their highest levels since March 2020, according to Freespace.
But as we return, organisations must consider how they can optimise the work environment to facilitate the social connections we’ve all been craving.
A new set of design principles are enabling organisations to create a better work experience for their people.
So how can we use these to create better social spaces within the workplace?
Within this setting, acoustic panels on the walls provide acoustic privacy and lessen the ambient sounds of adjacent spaces, allowing workers to host informal conversations in a relaxed environment. Truchet Acoustic Tiles are ideal for open-plan settings and can be wall-mounted or hung from the ceiling. They absorb an average of 90% of all soundwaves, and have been designed to look as good as they perform. Comfortable armchairs help workers to feel relaxed while side tables and personal tables on wheels can be easily moved around as needed.
This social setting supports multiple modes of work for individuals or small groups. A mix of seating and table arrangements support different postures and preferences, while dividers provide privacy from adjacent spaces without workers feeling cut off. The Sticks Divider by Extremix can be positioned at a range of angles, from straight line to wavy line or even a full circle to provide privacy. While the Steelcase Turnstone Pivot Screen has two sides, one upholstered for acoustic privacy and one in markerboard laminate, providing a whiteboard for brainstorming.
This social space supports multiple work modes, including socialising, brainstorming and serendipitous exchanges. Comfortable, informal furniture creates a living room-like space that creates authentic experiences. Benches and stools can be pulled around a whiteboard, chairs designed for lounging create a space to chat one on one, while high tables with stools provide a space to work while still feeling a part of the community.
This setting is designed to support one-on-one conversations. Colleagues can get together for a casual catch up, to eat lunch, or work alone together. The seating allows for eye contact and the addition of side tables and access to power make work easy.
The casual atmosphere of social spaces is what often draws us in, but these spaces must also support us to work in the way we want. We need spaces that provide some level of privacy, whether visual or acoustic. We need spaces with surfaces for technology and access to power. We need spaces that support the posture for the task at hand, whether lounging, task, stool-height or standing.
And it’s hard to have good social interactions when we don’t feel comfortable, so we need spaces that provide a sense of psychological comfort, where people feel relaxed and at ease. Think comfortable armchairs, with acoustic screens for privacy and personal tables and power so people have the tools they need to get work done.
Work is a social activity, and we’ve missed being with our colleagues in-person. Offices will need to facilitate these social connections to ensure workers are engaged and energised, especially where a hybrid work model means employees may only be in the office two or three times a week.
Ultimately, some of the best ideas happen away from the desk, outside of meeting rooms and in more relaxed, informal settings where workers can communicate more casually. Social spaces that support these interactions are a win-win for both employee happiness and business performance.