Both locally and globally, companies are reporting struggles with getting people back to the office, and one of the biggest takeaways from the pandemic, is the need to interact and collaborate, and the value of face to face, or to create the most authentic experience possible through technology. At the same time, companies are looking to reduce overheads and footprint.

How do we provide more opportunities for this flexibility and collaboration while balancing aspirations of rationalizing footprint.

A flexible work environment or activity-based working (ABW) is not a new workplace design concept. Its roots go back to the late 1970’s, American architect Robet Luchetti co-invented the idea of ‘activity settings’ in an office.

So what is a flexible work environment, and what does activity-based working mean? It is a people-first mindset that embraces flexible working styles. The concept of allowing employees to have different spaces related to the tasks they need to complete throughout the day, empowering them to choose when and how they work.

Successful activity based work requires conscious analysis of work requirements, feedback from users, and effective change management in implementation.

Assess the needs for:

• Desking zones
• Comfortable zones
• Collaboration zones
• Meetings: formal and informal
• Private phone booths
• Quiet areas for focus work.

Consider how selecting the right furnishings and layouts might make a space applicable for two or more of these functions at any given time. A staff cafeteria space could take on a raft of functions, a café style atmosphere with power integrations and meeting booths. Incorporating zones for comfort, individual work, group work and informal meetings, all while consuming no more footprint that what a business might currently use as a cafeteria.

Freestanding Phone booths and meeting pods are an exceptional way of creating privacy with minimal footprint and maximum future flexibility, being accessible to anyone at anytime, enhanced by the use of real-time online booking systems.

By consciously questioning ‘how do we REALLY use our space’ efficiencies can be gained in footprint, satisfaction and output. And by selection the right furnishings, these questions can continue to be assessed for future adaptations of needs, supporting exactly what employees need, whether that be group work, collaborating, brainstorming, privacy or downtime.

ABW is a tool to empower employees with choice, and is much more than a ‘nice to have’. It has the power to provide companies with the necessary flexibility and to support employee wellbeing and shape culture whilst boosting productivity.