Jeremy Myerson answers some frequently asked questions about workplace design and innovative workspaces
My offices all look unoccupied for great stretches of the day. How can I use space more intensively?
If you have teams of sales people out on the road or social workers making home visits, for example, you should consider some form of space- and desk-sharing scheme - hot desking or hotelling for example. This should enable you to reduce the amount of property you need to rent or allow you to divert unoccupied workspace for social facilities within the office. The first step is to conduct an audit of people's work patterns and the amount of time they actually spend at their desk in the office.
My organisation has recently suffered a sharp rise in days lost through staff sickness. How can I address this in my environment?
The chief causes of staff sickness are infection, stress and poor ergonomics. You need to make sure that environmental controls maintain good air quality and comfortable heating and lighting levels. Also, you should watch out for high noise levels and intrusive spatial layouts that can induce stress. Staff need some private spaces they can book, away from constant monitoring by supervisors. Check the angles and comfort levels of your computer workstations. Back pain and repetitive strain injury are a major cause of days lost through staff sickness.
I want to create more pride in what we do in the organisation among staff. How can the environment help?
Traditionally there was a tendency to hide the work process away behind a clean, high-tech image in office design. Today there is a trend towards displaying the stages of what is made by the company out in the open. Create an exhibition of your products in reception or a display showing targets. Publicise and celebrate successes within the work environment. Create physical focal points for staff to come together around product or service launches or other achievements.
I don't have a large budget. What should I target first to develop a more innovative work environment?
Small changes can have a big effect. First, look at your reception. Introduce a coffee maker so that the smell of fresh coffee greets visitors. Place a vase of flowers on the reception desk. Second, review the signage within the building: make it more legible and modern. Third, explore ways to reconfigure the layout of workstations within the office to create a public space with soft seating for staff to relax.
How do I source design consultants to help my organisation to change its environment?
Ask around. Which architects and designers have your peers and rivals used? Do some research. Look at magazine articles and case studies to find schemes you admire and which have a similar context to your own. Consult the professional trade associations. The Royal Institute of British Architects, the Chartered Society of Designers and the Design Business Association will all give advice and recommendations.