The Working Space
TWS - Orgatec 2022 Photo/Video Album

A quick walk thru of Orgatec 2022.

TWS - Orgatec 2022 Photo/Video Album
Manufacturer, NeoCon 2021
Source: CFN News Desk
Hightower wins multiple NeoCon awards including ...

Contract furnishings provider, Hightower received multiple awards at NeoCon 2021, including IIDA's 'Best Small Showroom' (under 4,000 sf) and 'Best of Competition' for its newly designed Chicago showroom.

Hightower wins multiple NeoCon awards including ‘Best Showroom’
Manufacturer, People
Source: CFN News Desk
Humanscale Announces Elizabeth Margles as Chief ...

Humanscale welcomes Elizabeth Margles to its Marketing Division in the role of Chief Marketing Officer. Margles comes to Humanscale with twenty years of experience in design, fashion and retail and a background in public relations and advertising.

Humanscale Announces Elizabeth Margles as Chief Marketing Officer
Manufacturer
Source: CFN News Desk
Steelcase teams up with Kontrol Technologies to ...

The exclusive relationship with Kontrol's BioCloud® Technology will provide real-time detection of airborne pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 to help make workplaces safer as organizations return to the office.

Steelcase teams up with Kontrol Technologies to provide air quality monitoring and viral detection technology
Manufacturer, People
Source: CFN News Desk
Alan Jay Heller dies at 81

For over 50 years, Heller offered leading designers the opportunity to work with new technologies to create innovative products. Those were great partnerships and they resulted in great products.

Alan Jay Heller dies at 81

Insights

,

State of American workplace? Too much ennui hurts U.S. productivity

,
State of American workplace? Too much ennui hurts U.S. productivity

Despite U.S. business managers' best efforts, the vast majority of U.S. workers are disengaged or indifferent. That workplace ennui comes at a price for U.S. productivity — economic output per person — a fundamental workforce measure that peaked in the 1950s and 1960s. Productivity growth has been declining since then, U.S. Labor Department data show, despite the rise of such remarkable technologies as the Internet, the laptop and the smartphone, all intended to help people work smarter and faster.

Via tampabay.com 

, ,

Big Picture: IA Design Intelligence in 2017

, ,
Big Picture: IA Design Intelligence in 2017

IA’s Design Intelligence group researches, adapts, and creates new technologies for our clients and design teams to best implement design and change. The group has explored workflows from Automated Programming to Virtual Reality, but what is it doing now, and what can we expect from design technologies for interior architecture in the near future?

Via interiorarchitects.com 

, , , ,

Why Are People Searching for Better Places to Work?

, , , ,
Why Are People Searching for Better Places to Work?

A new Gallup State of the American Workplace report is garnering headlines for this finding: The most engaged employees are people who work away from the office three to four days a week. But, it’s another conclusion from Gallup that should be resonating with leaders around the world. If organizations want to compete today they should consider giving their people greater flexibility, autonomy and care for the holistic wellbeing of employees.

“Organizations have nowhere to hide,” writes Gallup. “They have to adapt to the needs of the modern workforce, or they will find themselves struggling to attract and keep great employees and therefore customers.”

What does it take to provide an attractive work environment? As mobile work increases and people are working anywhere at anytime, we know people are seeking out new ways to get work done. So, the real question is: Is your work environment adapting to keep up or are people leaving the office to get work done?

Via steelcase.com

, ,

Staying on top of change: Five ways to futureproof the workplace

, ,
Staying on top of change: Five ways to futureproof the workplace

Change is coming to workplace as advancing technology and data driven insights fuel new ways of working.

Both companies and their real estate will have to adapt. In fact, a workplace designed on today’s needs and assumptions could be redundant in little more than a decade, according to JLL’s Workspace, reworked report.

“Size and scale no longer guarantee success,” says Tom Carroll, Head of EMEA Corporate Research at JLL. “The companies that survive the changes set to take place will be those who successfully manage this uncertainty and seize the opportunities created by disruption. Leading firms are already identifying ways to use technology to transform the products and services they provide, the structure of their operations and the ways in which they compete.

Via jllrealviews.com 

, , ,

THREE WAYS TO WOO MILLENNIALS TO YOUR WORKPLACE

, , ,
THREE WAYS TO WOO MILLENNIALS TO YOUR WORKPLACE

A new Deloitte survey shows millennials’ workplace wants have shifted in the last year. Here are the takeaways for associations looking to attract and retain a Gen Y workforce.

What a difference a year can make.

For instance, last year many young professionals said they were planning to say goodbye to their employers. “But, after 12 months of political and social upheaval, those ambitions have been tempered,” said the freshly released Deloitte Millennial Survey 2017.

Via associationsnow.com 

, , , ,

Employees prefer effective workplace technology to wacky office design

, , , ,
Employees prefer effective workplace technology to wacky office design

The majority (79 percent) of workers say reliable and modern technology is more important to them than office aesthetics, while accessories such as ping pong tables, slides, hammocks and wacky office designs may look good in pictures, but they don’t necessarily make employees any happier or productive. The is according to a survey, conducted by storage firm Kiwi Movers, which found that 86 percent of UK adults who work in an office said fun features were of no specific value to their working life, 11 percent said they were nice-to-have and of some value and 3 percent said they were very valuable. The most popular office perks are those offer an immediate tangible benefit to the employee, but even so, as many as 23 percent don’t take advantage every day; while 71 percent overall said they’d like more space in their office and of those, 58 percent believe that could be achieved by removing non-essential items. The research also found that younger workers were more likely on average to take advantage of ‘environmental’ perks like chill out areas and recreational equipment.

Via workplaceinsight.net 

, ,

THE ​HEALTHY ​WORKPLACE: IDEAL OR IDEALISTIC?

, ,
THE ​HEALTHY ​WORKPLACE: IDEAL OR IDEALISTIC?

In the 1950’s and 60’s, employee health was seldom factored into office design. Clerical staff in the central typing pool worked under flickering fluorescent lights and did not enjoy either privacy or access to windows and views. In the coveted corner office, a long day was likely to be fueled by coffee, cigarettes and the infamous 3-martini lunch—and there was no company gym, volleyball court or cocoon-like break room to relieve stress. At the same time, people at work frequently left their desk and walked across the office to deliver a memo, retrieve a file or set up a meeting. Incidental exercise—walking—was routine. And office workers rarely worked more than 10 hours a day. By the end of the 20th century, that was no longer the case. 

Via teknion.com 

,

A Psychologist Finally Explains Why You Hate Teamwork So Much

,
A Psychologist Finally Explains Why You Hate Teamwork So Much

There's no way around it: Every significant human accomplishment is the result of coordinated group behavior—people working together to achieve a common goal. Of course, that reality doesn't change the fact that for lots of people, teamwork is like pulling teeth. Here's why, and what to do about it.

Psychologists know there's a universal human need to belong to groups, but they also know that people aren't always predisposed to working well with each other. Individual interests often sabotage team spirit. People's competitive instincts end up finding targets in fellow team members rather than rival teams.

Via fastcompany.com 

,

What A Bug’s Life can teach us about building and workplace design

,
What A Bug’s Life can teach us about building and workplace design

There is a typically telling and intelligent Pixar moment in the film A Bug’s Life in which an already well lubricated mosquito goes up to a bar and orders a ‘Bloody Mary, O Positive’. The barman plonks a droplet of blood down on the bar. The mosquito sinks his proboscis into it, sucks it down in one go and promptly falls over. The main point is that the mosquito doesn’t need a glass because that is for animals that have a problem with gravity. For insects the major force in their lives isn’t gravity at all, but surface tension. The cleverness of the illustrators lies in them seeing this from the perspective of an insect when most of us ignore this kind of thing because our day to day lives are completely dominated by the invisible forces that define not only how we function but the form of our bodies and how we look and behave. As the evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould put it, “we are prisoners of the perceptions of our size”.

, , ,

Rethinking Collaboration in the Next Generation Workplace

, , ,
Rethinking Collaboration in the Next Generation Workplace

Technology change does not occur in a vacuum, and this is becoming evident as enterprises struggle to realize anticipated results after making costly investments in collaboration solutions. While today’s applications truly are exciting, it’s easy to overlook how important the workplace environment is for their success. The context in which a collaboration solution is deployed really matters, as a holistic approach is needed to ensure that the right technologies are deployed in the right way to meet today’s workplace needs.

Via techzone360.com

, , ,

WHAT CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACE DESIGN

, , ,
WHAT CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACE DESIGN

Over the course of the next five years, the workforce as a whole is projected to become more diverse both in terms of inherent attributes such as age, race, gender, religion, socioeconomic background, as well as acquired traits, like cognitive viewpoints and life experiences. While part of this is due to increasing incorporation of diversity initiatives, it is also reflective of larger demographic shifts.

Expect to see changes to the composition of the workforce: more retirees returning to work (or simply staying on part time), employees seeking work/life balance and greater flexibility/autonomy, and the increased influence of the 1099 economy.

Via workdesign.com 

, ,

WORKPLACE DESIGN IS FAILING KNOWLEDGE WORKERS, SAYS STUDY

, ,
WORKPLACE DESIGN IS FAILING KNOWLEDGE WORKERS, SAYS STUDY

Two-thirds of knowledge workers told a survey they left their last role because their workplace was not optimised for them.

A study commissioned by Sodexo, in partnership with Quora Consulting, examines factors affecting productivity, engagement and retention in the knowledge worker sector.

Sodexo says the findings of the study, Creating a workplace that maximises productivity, are a wake-up call for organisations not to put cosmetic design over substance.

In the study of 2,800 knowledge workers, 67 per cent admit they left their last role because the workplace was not optimised for them.

Via fm-world.co.uk 

, ,

Interruptions may actually improve team decision making, claims study

, ,
Interruptions may actually improve team decision making, claims study

Teams make better decisions if they are interrupted with advice during their task, rather than advised before it, new research from UCL School of Management claims. In a study published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Professor Colin Fisher of UCL looked at the timing and impact of formal interventions in decision-making groups. He found that giving teams advice ahead of time to prevent problems from emerging doesn’t work as well as interrupting them with in-process interventions.Decision-making groups value interruptive advice more, which leads them to share more critical information and make better decisions, compared to groups getting the same advice before they begin their task – even when the difference between receiving the information was only a few minutes.

Via workplaceinsight.net 

, , ,

Generation X... The Forgotten Generation?

, , ,
Generation X... The Forgotten Generation?

Every generation is told that one day they will have a chance to run the show — to really change the way the world works (literally and figuratively). My generation’s time in power lasted exactly three years.

I’ll excuse you if you blinked and missed Generation X’s lilliputian epoch as the dominant generation within the labor force. That’s because it was very short-lived. Gen X statistically took over in 2012 when 52.9 million of us surpassed the Baby Boom labor force to become the largest generation in the workforce. It unceremoniously ended in 2015 when Millennials took over.

If you are between the ages of 37 and 52, the definition of a Generation Xer, you might be asking yourself: Did I miss my work prime? And who are all these young kids running around in my office?

So let’s take a look at the brief, but illustrious attributes found in the forgotten generation — Generation X.

Via ki.com

, ,

The companies that encourage staff to socialize with each other

, ,
The companies that encourage staff to socialize with each other

Banish any thoughts of that cringe-worthy nightclub scene from The Office. There’s no reason why a social work culture has to be awkward or embarrassing, as these UK companies prove Socialising with work colleagues can be a tricky balance to strike. While studies show that it increases productivity, supports wellbeing and can lead to lasting friendships, there is always the fear that work might take over your personal life. That you may blur the boundaries of professional relationships or, even worse, end up embarrassing yourself on the karaoke machine when it goes too far. However, it seems that we are certainly not adverse to workplace relationships. In fact, one in five of us (22%) met our partner at work – according to a YouGov poll for the TUC – while a third of us have had a relationship with a colleague at some point.

Via inews.co.uk

, , ,

Staying on top of change: Five ways to futureproof the workplace

, , ,
Staying on top of change: Five ways to futureproof the workplace

Change is coming to workplace as advancing technology and data driven insights fuel new ways of working.

Both companies and their real estate will have to adapt. In fact, a workplace designed on today’s needs and assumptions could be redundant in little more than a decade, according to JLL’s Workspace, reworked report.

“Size and scale no longer guarantee success,” says Tom Carroll, Head of EMEA Corporate Research at JLL. “The companies that survive the changes set to take place will be those who successfully manage this uncertainty and seize the opportunities created by disruption. Leading firms are already identifying ways to use technology to transform the products and services they provide, the structure of their operations and the ways in which they compete.

Via jllrealviews.com 

, ,

As small businesses struggle, these U.S. cities are helping entrepreneurs thrive

, ,
As small businesses struggle, these U.S. cities are helping entrepreneurs thrive

Whether it’s a single block of stores in an idyllic small town or the business district of a bustling urban square, every vision of Main Street America has something in common: a panoply of small businesses, symbols of American opportunity and success.

But in today’s economy, that vision often looks as realistic as a Rockwell painting. According to Dynamism in Retreat, a new report by the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan public policy think tank, small businesses aren’t just suffering—they’re in the midst of a striking, and historic, decline.

“We’re adding businesses at the most anemic rate in history,” says John Lettieri, cofounder and senior director for policy and strategy at EIG. “We’re five full years into the recovery, and you still see an inability to get anywhere near historic norms for business formation. It’s a structural shift.”

Via curbed.com 

, , ,

Employers urged to create age friendly workplaces to help retain older workers

, , ,
Employers urged to create age friendly workplaces to help retain older workers

Employers should provide full and equal access to flexible working arrangements, occupational health support and appropriate workplace adaptations to help older workers to manage health conditions at work. This is according to a new report from the Centre for Ageing Better, Fulfilling work: what do older workers value about work and why? which identifies the characteristics of work that are important to people aged 50 and over, and explores actions employers can take to attract and retain them. Understanding what older workers want is the first step in helping employers, policy makers and others create age-friendly workplaces. By 2020, one in three workers will be over 50 but while the employment rate for all working age adults remains at a record high of nearly 75%, for people over 60, this falls to around 50%. and there are currently 12 million people heading towards an insufficient retirement income. Ageing Better commissioned the Institute of Employment Studies to carry out the study as to ways of helping people stay at work and the report finds that health is the most important factor affecting older workers’ decisions to continue in work, ahead of job satisfaction and job quality.

Via workplaceinsight.net 

News, Insights, Research, Trends and Products for Working Spaces.