3 Ways Office Furniture is Changing The Workplace

It’s amazing what office furniture is capable of today. We’ve seen immaculate designs and technological enhancements that are out of this world for office furniture, from the automatic office to desks that monitor and watch your tasks in Thinking Outside The Cube. But we’ve also seen some really practical applications of new technology and innovative design. Minor adjustments that designers have made to office furniture and the workplace that has helped make offices more collaborative, healthy, and livable. Afterall, when you spend approximately half of your waking outs at the office, you need a livable place you can call your second home.

Here is how office furniture is changing the workplace through collaboration, ergonomics, and culture.

Collaboration has become increasingly important in the office as more companies see the value in fostering a creative and innovative work environment. Office furniture and design has consistently supported this workplace shift by offering solutions from open seating and the open office layout, to providing breakout rooms, cafes, and even extra-curricular areas for new ideas to pop up while participating in outside activities. The innovations in office furniture and design are one of the main driving forces behind creating successful collaborative work spaces.

Ergonomics is another facet of the office that has shifted rapidly since new studies have come out about wellness in the workplace. These days, wellness is the new amenity and can be implemented through office furniture and design. Many offices are implementing standing desks and ergonomically sound seating. They are also seeing the importance of including gyms and other boutique fitness studios within the workplace. Greenery, natural light, and access to outdoor green space is another key inclusion to the innovative office designs, and they all trickle back to the value for providing features of optimal comfort and reduced stress and injury.

Culture moves and shakes a company to become what it is known for, how it operates, and how people feel about it from within and outside. According to a Columbia University study, an organization with a low company culture can see turnover rates of up to 48.4%, while high company culture organizations are at a mere 13.9%. It’s apparent that culture has a large impact on employee engagement, and thus, impacts the profitability of the company as a whole. In fact, high levels of employee engagement result in a 19% increase in operating income, according to Entrepreneur.com. With culture being an important metric for companies to boost, the innovations in office furniture and design have been paving ways for employees to be happier in their jobs. By providing solutions to boost productivity and employee engagement, office furniture and design is a key factor in a high-impact company culture.

Quality design and thoughtful selection of office furniture does make a difference in the overall success of an organization. To schedule your free 30 minute design consultation with a Rightsize Facility designer, please contact us now.