The moment either a visitor or an employee first steps into a company’s workplace, they learn about two things: the company’s business focus and the culture of its people, both of which are reflections of one another. What ties the two together is the workplace itself.
The design and environment of a workplace amount to more than just the paint on the walls or the choice of furniture within the space. More importantly, workplace design is about how the workplace is set up for business to function effectively, and about how employees, clients, and other visitors are able to interact with one other. Workplace design is an important factor in establishing the workplace culture and, therefore, overall business operation.
Today, we see workplace design evolving beyond just providing amenities for company employees. Many offices have followed in Google’s footsteps, adopting employee perks like snack rooms with free food, fitness and wellness areas, game rooms, etc., all of which showcase a “fun” company culture.
However, the biggest mistake companies make is blindly copying what Google has done and employing it in their organization, not really understanding what is best for their own culture. What works for Google won’t necessarily work for your business. Analyze what you do, and go with your business needs first.