Designers understand the need for a flexible workspace to accommodate the needs of modern teams and employees — team collaboration, knowledge sharing and productivity. Companies took down private offices and cubicle walls, opting for wide-open workspaces.
https://rusbank.net/offers/microloans/zaymyi_kruglosutochno_bez_otkaza. The modern office is now characterized by an open-floor plan or a “one-size-fits-all” layout.
The Downsides of One Size Fits All Office
With teams and employees sharing the same open space, distracting noise becomes evident. The absence of cubicle walls and workplace partitions eliminate speech privacy in a workspace. Lack of speech privacy enables the unintended audience to overhear conversations they shouldn’t be or don’t want to hear at all.
Lack of speech privacy cost your bottom line more than what you think. Research shows 50% of employees in open-office plans are frustrated with the lack of speech privacy. Distracted employees become disengaged, resulting in higher stress, errors and turnover rates.
Create Work Zones to Improve Your Open Office
Today’s modern offices are smart, but you can make it even smarter. Utilize your space efficiently. Zone your team and employees based on the activities taking place in the office. Have a deep understanding of the needs of your teams and employees.
Team collaboration
An employee collaboration, the main focus of modern offices can be further improved with zoning. Separate teams based on their roles and activities. Create work zones that cater to their work and acoustic needs. Rather than just sharing the same table, some teams might need to gather around and work more closely.
Depending on their roles, teams might need a more collaborative space while other teams enjoy a more private and quiet workspace.
One-on-one knowledge sharing
Millennial workers which make up 34% of the US workforce are more motivated when given regular feedback and encouragement. A study shows that younger employees are more interested in learning from peers and experienced higher-ups.
Work evaluation, planning brief, progress follow-up and mentoring are integral parts of employee development and well-being. Provide a space where employees can discuss with enough privacy that won’t make them feel trapped and pressured.
Solo productivity
One of the concerns with open offices is the lack of private area where employees can work in full concentration. You don’t have to build private offices or high cubicle walls. Create a quiet zone where employees can go if they need privacy, separated from work areas allocated for teams and conferences.
Table partitions can also provide employees with a sense of privacy. This will also give them control in their own space, allowing them to personalize their area in a way that makes them more comfortable and productive.
Work Zones Acoustics Management
Further, improve your workspace with proactive acoustic management and speech privacy solutions.
Acoustic panels can be installed as workspace and table partitions, in walls and ceilings or as additional pieces of art. EcoPrivacy™ acoustic panels are functional pieces of art that enhance the visual and acoustical design of your office. VoiceArrest™ sound masking systems enhance speech privacy in a workspace by providing a comfortable unobtrusive background noise that makes conversations unintelligible.
Well-planned work zones equipped with acoustic panels and adaptive sound masking technology help resolve the lack of speech privacy in an open-plan office.
Download our Smart Workspaces Need Smart Acoustics whitepaper to learn more.