What does a multinational employee and a freelancer have in common? Well, obviously not the salary or client relationship! But the desire to work in an office that resembles anything but an office. Over the last few years, emphasis has been placed on work space layout and decoration to promote professional exchanges and stimulate creativity. Follow the guide.
From having an office at home to having a home at the office.
Are flexible work and work at home still outdated concepts? The Millennials, who grew up with social networking, are overwhelming the job market with their codes and habits. As proof, these multinationals commission office-design businesses to provide their employees with a warm, friendly, and connected work environment. Additionally, collaborative work spaces (coworking) are thriving across the world allowing independent and freelance workers to have exchanges, share, or even do business together.
The metamorphosis of the multinational work space
A kitchen, a dining room, living room, gym, etc., no, these aren’t different parts of your future apartment, these are actually parts of the company of tomorrow. Everything is designed for the employee’s well-being: they need to feel good, like at home, and can choose their work space based on the time of day, their tasks, or even their emotions. Some employees will find themselves in phone booths or cubicles having private conversations, while others will find themselves having meetings around a large connected work desk. “The work station as we imagine it harnesses ideas and creativity.” Explains Nicolas Paugam, cofounder of ArtDesk Group, who employs 80 “without a fixed office space,” err, employees. So, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Heineken, Accenture, and many more let their employees’ imaginations run wild by offering them unique workplaces (an office shed, a 2 CV) to free their creative spirit.
Coworking is a must for independent workers
In nearly 30 years, the number of independent workers has increased by 80% in Canada, which necessitates an adapted work space. In fact, freelancers and independent workers do not always appreciate working in their basements or a corner café. Hence why collaborative work spaces (coworking) are very popular among professionals who—although glued to their screens 24/7—have a need to be connected to reality and within a community of workers. Open spaces (creative and welcoming) and closed spaces (private meetings and confidential conversations) meet the needs of entrepreneurs wanting to not only share their resources and expertise but also want to exchange ideas, passions, and common projects.
Careful, although these collaborative spaces are good for working; they are not panaceas for everyone. Goodbye little family photo on your desk, hello shared keyboard, screens, and… germs.