The traditional office model - an individual or group workspace provided by the company - is no longer the only thing employees are looking for. Above all, they are looking for a workplace where their well-being will be taken into consideration by management.
The health crisis, along with the widespread adoption of teleworking, has shaken up the place occupied by the office in the organization of work. It has also highlighted the importance of the office in the social dynamic between colleagues. While telecommuting has had little impact on employee efficiency, inter-team links and social exchanges have been directly affected by remote working.
The office, a marker of social cohesion
In a study on " The impact of the health crisis on working environments" Frédéric Miquel and Nicolas Cochard (respectively Associate General Manager and R&D Manager of the Kardham Group), highlight the importance of socialization within the company. Tomorrow's office, or the one to be designed today, must be built around social exchanges.
Photo from Office Snapshots website
In fact, in another Covivio study entitled " Offices of tomorrow: flexibility first ", the importance of the social and collective dimension in a working environment is very clearly expressed, by over 66% of employees.
The company and office design therefore have a direct role to play in maintaining and nurturing the social ties that employees exchange.
Designing an office to encourage social interaction
While the development of places for social exchange is a wish shared by employees and managers alike (over 46% - see Covivio study), the physical translation of this desire can sometimes seem complicated.
Our team of interior designers reveals three key elements not to be overlooked when designing your office space.
1. Adapted office furniture: modular, designer and comfortable
One solution is the use of modular office furniture, which will enable the development of a place of creativity and social exchange by offering greater flexibility and versatility in the approach to work.
In addition, it enables rapid adaptation to fluctuating staff numbers and to the organization's various changing needs.
As well as being functional, the work environment must also be attractive and stimulating. The aesthetics of the furniture should therefore not be overlooked.
2. Preferred colors
Often, and yet wrongly, the choice of colors is generally put at the bottom of the scale of priorities when it comes to office design. Yet it plays an important role in the mood and well-being of a company's staff.
Trendy colors are :
- Celestial blue: symbolizes flexibility and harmony with nature.
- Sage green: inspires willpower, energy and relaxation.
- Veri Peri: characterized by a violet hue that inspires confidence, curiosity and creativity.
- Powder pink: creates welcoming, convivial spaces.
- Copper: often used in minimalist spaces.
3. A change in space
Individual or shared offices, which often take up the vast majority of space, need to evolve to become smaller, more flexible, open and collaborative. We also need to expand the spaces reserved for informal zones - areas for creativity, socializing and relaxation.
While general trends are often applicable to all companies, it's a good idea to listen to your employees' needs before making any major changes.
Would you like us to help you personalize your workspace? Put your trust in our team of interior designers. Based on your budget, our team will visit your establishment and put together a decoration package to brighten up and personalize your space.