Insights from the forefront of future of work thought leadership

When it comes to open-plan offices, there are generally two schools of thoughts. As Ethan S. Bernstein, associate professor at Harvard Business School, puts it:

You hear so much said about how much people don’t like open offices, but there’s also so much said about the vibrancy of an environment when you open space and data up, about the collisions and interactions that will happen there. For me, the promise of open offices was at least as compelling as the traps. Would everyone bustle with productive collisions, or simply put their big headphones on and become numb to the space?

Together with co-author Stephen Turban, Bernstein sought to find the definitive answer.

Using sociometric badges to accurately measure interactions in the workplace, they conducted a study comparing the behaviour of workers before and after a shift to an open-plan office.

The results were startling.

They found that, after the move, face-to-face (F2F) interactions decreased by around 70%. Electronic interaction took up some of this slack, though, increasing by roughly 20–50%.

This seems to suggest that, rather than collaborating more with their fellow employees, people were actually withdrawing.

So does this study signal the death of open-plan offices?

The findings are compelling. But we don’t believe it tells the whole story. If you’re considering whether the move to an open-plan office is right for your commercial fitout, here are some other things you should consider.

The missing pieces of the puzzle

A scientific study has to be rigid, to ensure you’re actually testing the variables you want to test. But a real-life environment comes with a myriad of other factors that will affect whether a move to an open-plan office is successful or not.

Becoming ‘open-plan’ is about more than just tearing down walls. After all, if you’re simply taking things away, then it should come as no surprise that your employees aren’t exactly going to be thrilled.

For example,

• Are you adding a variety of functional spaces – like quiet booths, social areas and collaboration zones – to give employees plenty of options depending on their needs?
• Are you repurposing that extra space in a way that benefits employees, whether that’s by installing a coffee area or gym?
• Are you considering how factors like noise, daylight and views will affect employees?

Had these sorts of factors been considered in the study, it’s likely the results would have been different.

Even Bernstein himself admits:

There might be other things a manager could do to mitigate the potential negative impact on interactions: hybrid or flexible spaces; train people differently; allow work-from-home time; set a tone and work culture that tries to deprogram us from our natural instincts to respond the way these organisations did. There are those who love open offices, in part because organisations mitigated the downside with other deliberate managerial actions.

Face-to-face (F2F) vs. electronic communication

According to the study, F2F communication dropped dramatically after moving to an open-plan office. But is that necessarily a bad thing?

Electronic communication is the normal form of communication for digital natives, more of whom are entering the workforce each year. Indeed, many are more comfortable with this form of communication than with F2F interactions.

There’s also no evidence that one form of communication is better than the other, and with the wealth of digital collaboration tools available to us today, it seems crazy to give our employees great tools and not expect them to use them.

These days, effective collaboration is highly dependent on these tools – as well as on having great spaces to spontaneously huddle without having to book a meeting room a week in advance.

It’s about change management

Successful open-plan offices come down to change management. After all, you can’t just take people’s offices away and expect them to be happy about it. If, however, employees feel they have been able to contribute to discussion and voice their needs, they’ll be much more receptive to the arrangement.

You may even find, after gathering feedback, that an entirely open-plan office isn’t in fact the best thing for your particular company. While private offices are certainly less space-efficient, they’re worth at least putting on the table as an option.

Once the decision has been made, employees then need to be primed for the transition.

As Axiom Workplaces’ Annelie says, “The behavioural aspect is really important…getting staff ready, getting them excited, and making them aware that the whole space now belongs to them. Shifting their thinking to taking greater ownership of the space is really important and actually builds a stronger culture.”

Consider how you can make the path to change as smooth and stress-free as possible for your employees.

What is right for your organisation?

In the end, it’s not really about whether open-plan offices are “good” or “bad”. It’s about what type of commercial fitout is best going to serve your organisation.

If you’re not sure whether an open-plan office is right for you, we’re always here to help – just get in touch.

So, for whatever reason, you’ve decided to refurbish your office for the new year. Whether that’s because you’re moving into new premises, or simply upgrading your existing office, it’s all very exciting!

Once the excitement wears off however, it’s time to double-down and get stuff done – after all, you only have a few months to get organised. While that might seem like an arduous task, it’s also one that’s doable (in fact, we deal with this situation regularly with our clients).

It’s also worth it. A new office fit out in the new year is an opportunity to enhance your company culture through a workplace design that improves team collaboration and staff wellbeing. For your bottom line, that means improved employee engagement and productivity.

So here are our top five tips on making sure your office move or refurbishment is done on time, on budget, and on brand – and with minimal disruptions to your business.

1. Determine your objectives

Your new space needs to be guided by your overall business objectives around your workforce, so ask yourself why you’re refurbishing your office or considering relocating in the first place.

Is your end goal to attract and retain talent, or enhance collaboration? Or are you changing the way of working to reduce real estate costs?

Did you notice that an existing space is being under-utilised? Are you expanding, downsizing or just hoping to move to a new location? Is it because you have an upcoming lease expiry?

It’s important to understand your business goals because they will impact your office fitout requirements, which will then need to be balanced with your company’s vision, culture and values.

2. Set a budget

If you’re able to request a budget, consider how this office relocation or refurbishment will help you achieve your business objectives, and start from there.

Will clients be walking in and out of that space, making it highly visible? Do you work in professional services, where the morale and productivity of staff members are key to the company’s success?

It can be difficult to strike a balance between having a modern and functional workspace, without breaking the bank. However, a partner like Axiom Workplaces can help you establish a budget to assess the financial impact of the project early on, considering all aspects of the fitout.

3. Establish a timeline

While this is not always a fun activity, it is a crucial one. Without excellent project planning and organisational skills, you will find it difficult to keep the project on track and on budget.

A thorough timeline with key deadlines, milestones and meetings should be determined from the outset to maintain transparency as to the project delivery’s progress.

This can be the most difficult part of the process to manage without an experienced workplace design partner that knows the process inside out, so it’s worth consulting with one to ensure that things get done on time and on budget.

4. Get the team together

You’ll need to get your steering committee together to make sure that there’s enough collaboration on the vision of the new office throughout the entire process.

There are multiple elements to an office fitout – including strategy, design, technology and project management.

Getting all the relevant stakeholders together will not only result in faster approvals across each aspect of delivery, it will also ensure effective change management during the transition, because everyone is kept in the loop.

5. Embrace the opportunity

Instead of seeing this project as a daunting hassle, see it for what it is – an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of everyone who touches your business.

You’ll be able to implement the latest design trends – and not just for design’s sake, but to boost staff morale and wellbeing, and show your customers that you’re adaptable, forward-thinking and believe in your business.

Want some help?

If you’re planning an office fitout in the new year and are feeling overwhelmed just thinking about it, meet with us and get a comprehensive design assessment and execution plan, obligation-free. This is a limited offer so act now to secure your spot.

We’re confident that we can deliver an end-to-end solution, encompassing strategy, design and delivery, that will have you and your team reaping the benefits of their new space in a matter of months.

At Axiom, we’re excited to see office interior design trends sweeping offices across Australia. These trends show we are clearly well into the era of “people power” – businesses are putting their most valuable asset, their employees, at the heart of their designs, and they are reaping the benefits in terms of more innovation, better productivity, and improved talent attraction and retention.

If you’re looking to outfit your office in the near future, these 5 office design trends will ensure you get maximum bang for your buck.

Infuse Hospitality and a Homely feel into the Workplace

When it comes to attracting the best talent, how a workplace looks and feels can make a world of difference. Businesses are designing more comfortable flexible workspaces and infusing a hospitality experience into the workplace in order to make them more appealing places to be.

Canva’s headquarters in Surry Hills, for example, offer cafes, bars, outdoor spaces, events, volunteering and collaborative work, as well as child-friendly zones, a gym, bike parking, e-charging stations and areas for meditation.

Designing Flexible Workspaces for Enhanced Productivity

Today’s businesses have to be agile – and so do their offices. Companies are therefore providing a wide variety of functional spaces in order to help their employees perform at their peak – think cosy, quiet nooks for deep concentration; standing meeting rooms for quick-fire discussions; comfy lounge spaces for informal chats and open-plan areas for teamwork.

The new Slater & Gordon office at Collins Street Melbourne, for example, was designed with flexibility in mind, featuring dedicated zones for concentrated work, casual areas to engage informally, collaborative zones for teams and mixed areas for sharing information.

Encouraging Collaboration through Innovative Interior Design

Collaboration is a key component of innovative businesses. According to a joint study by The Institute for Corporate Productivity and Babson College. Companies that actively work to leverage team collaboration as an organisational skill are five times more likely to be high-performing organisations.

For this reason, more businesses are cleverly using workplace design to foster collaboration between their employees, using features like open-plan areas, large communal desks and flexible breakout spaces.

Some companies are taking an even more unconventional approach. Hipages have some rare open space in the middle of Sydney’s CBD, with a patio space which is completely screened for their teams’ privacy, and fitted out with plants, lounges and deck chairs.

Adopt Sustainable Practices into Office Interior Design

Companies are taking sustainability seriously, designing energy-efficient office spaces that reduce costs while increasing employee satisfaction.

 Seqwater, a major water supplier in Queensland, recently revamped their offices with a keen focus on sustainability. Key sustainable aspects of the project involved reusing and repurposing existing joinery, carpeting, and structural elements.

These initiatives greatly reduced landfill waste, reflecting Seqwater's dedication to sustainable practices.

 Prioritising Health and Wellness in Modern Office Design

Companies that prioritise health and wellness in the workplace not only benefit their employees but also see improvements in their financial performance.

Numerous organisations use the WELL Standard as a framework to design their workspaces and enhance well-being. The WELL Standard offers a comprehensive collection of over 500 evidence-based strategies encompassing design, policy, and operations that, when applied, can elevate the health and wellness of your team.

• Improve air quality
• Ensure safe drinking water
• Reduce burnout
• Enhance sleep and mental wellness
• Cultivate a healthy culture
• Choose healthier materials
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Encourage regular movement
• Cater to the diverse needs of hybrid, remote, and on-site workers

There are countless ways that environments can contribute to the well-being of their occupants, whether through better air quality, access to natural light, or spaces for relaxation and physical activities. At Chevron's Head Office in Perth, a wellness center offers massages and other spa treatments, alongside a tech and learning hub.

Ergonomic design is crucial, with height-adjustable desks gaining popularity. While the cost of replacing each workstation was once a hurdle for many office managers, there are now adaptable solutions that modify existing furniture for this flexibility. As standing desks become more popular, they also integrate seamlessly into the office aesthetic.

These 5 interior design trends suggest several ways to create a smart workplace design that promotes wellness and wellbeing at work and in turn fosters a positive workplace culture. A happy and healthy team equals a thriving organisation.

Learn more in our new guide: Workplace Design Trends 2024

The modern office has transformed. Employee wellbeing, collaboration spaces, open-plan layouts…these qualities were rare in workplaces a decade ago. Organisations now spend a significant amount of their resources bettering their workspace design to optimise the performance and wellbeing of their employees.

Workplaces are changing. Organisations are moving towards modern workspaces, where employees can collaborate and work together. Open designs are replacing traditional – isolating – cubicle-style offices. But many organisations are yet to perfect this design shift and should consider the benefits of investing in a space solely for collaboration and socialising.

Peace is hard to find in the office. Constant chatting, keyboards tapping, and music blasting can interrupt employees, impacting productivity and affecting their wellbeing at work. Noise is one of the top disrupters to employees and costs Australian businesses billions in absenteeism and staff turnover. Organisations need to ensure their people are well looked after, both mentally and physically, and this can be achieved by adding quiet zones.

A study by Steelcase found 95 percent of employees today need quiet and private areas, but only 40 percent say their workplaces provide them.