How the employee and the planet are central to new office space trends

One way is to invest in quality furniture that responds to both an individual’s physical needs and the ability for employees to interact easily with one another – especially with the shift towards the office as a place for collaboration and connection.

Furniture should be multi-functional and mobile, including varying heights and types of furniture in to ensure that each individual feels comfortable and engaged. Mini desk stands are also useful to improve working posture and increase comfort at a desk. Or take it to the next level with a Bluetooth activated, height adjustable desk with sensor-driven technology that tells you when it’s time to move. The idea is that employers provide their people with the solutions to support wellness.

Purposeful Wi-Fi dead zones

In direct opposition to the always-on mentality, progressive companies are providing spaces in the office where the Wi-Fi does not work. Sending a message that it is okay to switch off, these spaces provide the opportunity to fully focus on the task at hand without multi-channel interruptions.

Imagine hosting a meeting where no one looks at their cell phone or quickly sends an email? This will become increasingly important with the rise of remote working and the need to fully focus when people come together at the office.

Lighting technology

The benefits of optimised lighting are big enough to justify the investment. Over and above the cost efficiencies, employee wellbeing, increased productivity and environmental gain are proven.

Led by our connection with nature, office spaces demand more natural and softer lighting. A big trend is adjustable lighting as a critical tool to influence concentration, mood and motivation. Lighting systems on a timer can adjust the brightness according to the time of day and boost energy levels. These timed lighting changes in office spaces are intended to mimic natural light changes throughout the day to stimulate our natural responses to light through our body’s normal hormonal reaction to this stimulus. The result is optimized concentration as well as recuperation. The degree of lighting also depends on the task at hand and must be controlled accordingly.

Responsible purchasing

More than price, quality and functionality, this speaks to taking environmental, social and ethical factors into consideration when making a purchasing decision. It’s about sourcing furniture, fixtures and equipment sustainably.

LEED, BREEAM and WELL are global certification programmes that seek to assess responsible building standards. For example, LEED evaluates the environmental impact of a building while WELL assesses the built environment's contribution to the wellness of its occupants. Both measure sustainable purchasing as best practice.

We are seeing global companies with international workplace standards lead the way in their commitment to environmental advocacy and employee wellbeing. Increasingly, others are following suit, placing their employees and the planet at the centre of their operations.