WORKPLACE WELLBEING

TREND REPORT

‘Personal Sanctuary’

It’s official. The traditional office is no more. Dead, buried, over. Thanks to technology-enabled globalisation, we can now work from anywhere, at anytime, without disruption (Wi-Fi connection dependent, of course).

So, this begs the question: why do we need an office? Shouldn’t we all just work from home in our pyjamas and be done with it?

Scaling the issueAccording to a UK-based workplace study by Gensler, 67% of the British workforce feel drained by the end of the day due to their current office environments. In fact, those described as ‘innovators’ in the research spend just 3.5 days of their working week in the office, choosing to do their thinking elsewhere.

This suggests that the office model of old has not evolved at the same rate as our working patterns. And the result of this is frustration coupled with low productivity. Data from the Office for National Statistics announced that labour productivity in the UK fell 0.2% between January and March 2019 (YoY) – 15% below our G7 country counterparts.

On the flipside, however, a European-wide survey by global flooring manufacturer Tarkett found that people still want and need a dedicated workspace. Over 60% of respondents said they are most productive in an office. Though it must be one where they feel they can ‘zone in’ without distraction, and equally collaborate with colleagues when needed.

Long live the office?

2

Although it’s not going to happen overnight, it seems clear that workplaces need to change. And not just in the creative industries, but across all sectors. Though with increasingly restricted budgets, a lack of available space and ageing building stock, we must help our clients find cost-effective solutions that make a difference.

In this guide, we’ll explore the practicalities of creating ‘personal sanctuaries’ in the workplace – somewhere that people can get the space they need to complete the task at hand. With some expert commentary from around the industry, we’ll explore:

• The importance of comfort • How to quieten the ‘noise’ - both audio and visual• Looking ahead to the future workplace

The solution?

3

Our managing director, Marc Richard, believes that people just want to be productive at work. So, by introducing too many options for forced relaxation, we may be overlooking an important fact. To feel productive, people need to be comfortable. And the only way that can happen is if they feel in control.

“People want more ownership over their working environments – being able to really ‘own’ the space is really important for happiness. When at work, employees need the ability to choose an area that helps them focus. And the environment has to suit the task at hand.”

Vans HQ LA. Image courtesy of Camira Fabrics.

4

Are you sitting comfortably?

Over the past few years, there’s been something of a cross-over – a merging, if you will. Design elements of the home have been creeping into commercial spaces. A vintage typewriter here, a Chesterfield there. It was so subtle, it could almost have gone unnoticed until, boom! An official term was coined. ‘Resimercial’. The literal marrying of residential and commercial spaces.

Although, we can’t say we’re big fans of the term itself, we are advocates of introducing furniture shapes, once solely reserved for the home, into workspaces and beyond.

With a 30-year background in also designing furniture for residential spaces, and an unwavering dedication to comfort, we truly believe that plump cushions should not only be enjoyed outside the hours of 9am - 5pm. And we’re not the only ones that feel this way.

The ‘Resimercial’ Revolution

5

“There has been an industry-wide appreciation that collaboration is a key part of success in the workplace. To be able to provide an environment for work settings that support this, different types of furniture are required. And this furniture has similar characteristics to that found in the home – comfort, flexibility and aesthetic appeal.” - David Smalley, Mix Interiors

A study by Fellowes found that 93% of technology industry employees would stay with a company longer if better workplace wellbeing was implemented, including comfortable seating. But how do designers balance style with comfort? According to Camira Fabrics, one texture is a sure-fire winner.

“One material type that’s difficult to beat when searching for a suitable upholstery fabric is wool. Indelibly linked with comfort, not only is it incredibly soft, it is visually soothing too”, explains Rebecca Hamer.

“A natural fibre, it creates a depth of colour and provides a comforting tactility that is ideal for the workplace – as well as possessing the high durability that is important for many organisations’ seating areas.”

Additionally, wool boasts fire retardancy qualities and a multitude of environmental benefits.

6

“The ‘resimercial’ trend is showing no signs of abating, and creating a relaxed, welcoming environment is increasingly one of the top objectives for designers of workplace interiors. With sofas, comfortable seating areas and collaborative spaces making an appearance in many organisations, comfort has never been as important as it is today – and nowhere is this more of a priority than when selecting the fabric on which we sit for hours each day.” - Rebecca Hamer, Camira Fabrics

Image courtesy of Camira Fabrics.

Quieting the ‘noise’: Audio & Visual

7

AudioDistractions in this area aren’t always immediately obvious. Ringing phones and loud music are a given but, equally, the hum of an air conditioning unit or a coffee machine grinding can cause the same effect.

Increasingly, designers are introducing privacy solutions to help combat some of these issues. A study by Gartner Group, a global technology research firm, found that employees are now spending only 40% of their time at their allocated desks. And so, privacy sofas and chairs, and even micro-environments, are providing space for quiet conversations and ‘heads down’ work.

Similarly, acoustic panels are frequently implemented into workplace schemes to reduce excessive noise. When specified in complementary fabrics to the furniture, they can improve the form as well as the functional aspects of a particular zone.

It’s oh so quiet...Of course, there are many elements that make up how comfortable a person feels. And in a working environment, audio and visual factors both play a part.

When we refer to excessive ‘noise’, we acknowledge this covers both what we hear, and what we can see.

8

VisualLikewise, certain colours can evoke specific feelings or help to reinforce company messages. According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive at global colour experts Pantone, blues and oranges will make a business look “resourceful”, while yellow will encourage “playfulness”. Pink is said to be “discrete” and gold is “sophisticated”.

Camira Fabric’s Rebecca Hamer also has an interesting take on colour theory. “Often cited as a colour to enhance productivity, blue is an ideal option for inclusion within the workspace. Whilst some may consider it to be a cold, unwelcoming shade, when used alongside neutral, warm tones it can actually create an appealingly calm space.

“Having the opposite effect, red can be an effective shade to include in spaces in which employees want to feel energised and stimulated. Often chosen for collaborative areas, a red fabric can introduce a burst of vibrancy within an otherwise calming work environment, but should be used with restraint to ensure it doesn’t create an overwhelmingly bold interior.

“It’s also important to note that, whilst it can be tempting to shy away from pattern for fear of creating a busy, distracting environment, when used proportionally, a subtle detail or pop of colour can actually be incredibly effective in bringing a scheme together – creating a balanced and harmonious environment.”

In addition to colour, distractions have been found to present themselves in other ways. Recent studies have shown that a person’s productivity can be dependent on something as simple as where they sit in an office. Open plan workspaces are commonly coming under scrutiny for being prime unproductivity hotspots. But there’s also an argument that having no clear sightlines in a cubicle or private office can, in fact, have a detrimental effect on creativity.

9

10

How far is too far?

While privacy sofas are one thing, some employers are going one step further by introducing sleep pods to their offices (yes, really).

Fora in London’s Borough has added an Orrb to its basement. A cross between an egg and a spaceship, the ‘immersive’ space allows users to get some shut eye, meditative time or, simply, privacy.

Brighton-based PR agency Man Bites Dog opted for beach huts in its office, though told the BBC that rather than a gimmick, they actually saw productivity gains: "If we look at hard performance measures such as staff retention, engagement, productivity, quality of work and team satisfaction with their workplace, then it's a clear winner."

For advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy, a padded cell made a not-so-subtle design statement while also offering optimum acoustics for making conference calls.

But while these solutions might seem fairly permanent, businesses don’t need to make vast investments to shake up their surroundings. As trends change, so too can office furniture. Thanks to the increasing move towards loan and refurbishment, even well-chosen, statement pieces can be interchanged depending on the specific needs of users at one particular time.

To infinity, and beyond?

11

“We firmly believe that people come to work to be productive. And for that to happen they want to be comfortable and in control of their environments. Hence, we feel the need for the ‘personal sanctuary’ to be more crucial than ever before.”

- Marc Richard, Managing Director, Roger Lewis

Top takeawaysThere’s no need for businesses to ‘break the bank’. Instead, they can implement ‘quick wins’. Rather than build a meeting room, could some privacy sofas and chairs do the job?

The majority of people want to be productive when at work. We believe offices can support this without going too far - more zoning and fewer ball pools.

‘Noise’ can be both audio and visual. The creation of quieter spaces with privacy furniture is a cost-effective way of cutting down on overly noisy zones. And a simple switch of fabric colour or texture can help reduce visual noise.

Ultimately, the concept of the ‘personal sanctuary’ is far less extravagant than some might assume. Providing comfortable spaces allows for employees to control their own ‘personalised’ set up, allowing them to be the most productive they can be.

If you’d like to find out more about creating the perfect personal sanctuary, contact our team at rogerlewis.uk. And discover our Kyoto range here – custom designed to support privacy and comfort in the workplace.

12

13

Roger LewisEpsom Road, Wiltshire, BA14 0XF

W: rogerlewis.ukE: welcome@rogerlewis.ukT: +44 1225 774435