How to create a productive office team

1. Don’t be afraid to try something new One of the most obvious ways to create a productive workplace is to ensure that employees have access to the tools and resources they need. However, it’s just as important to think outside of the box. Every office has standard industry equipment and systems that they tend to stick to, so why … Read More

How to set up your workplace for remote and hybrid employees

Different types of remote workers and their needs Wherever your team works, it’s important to support everyone’s unique working situation. It’s best to determine how your equipment helps bring teams together to allow for productivity every day. First, let’s define the different types of remote work few of these options so you can decide what your organisation looks like and … Read More

Back to the office? Science reveals the best desks to grab

If you are heading back to the office and get a chance to pick where you sit, choose wisely, say researchers who have been studying the science behind desk location and productivity. The University College London team visited the HQ of a large global tech company in the city to quiz staff about their experiences of open-plan working. Window desks … Read More

Workplace Wellbeing during COVID-19

While the importance of workplace wellbeing has been increasingly acknowledged in office design over the past few years, COVID-19 has highlighted the crucial impact of employee wellbeing on how effectively a workplace functions. With businesses refocusing on the needs of individual employees and a wealth of new information emerging on the pros and cons of remote working, businesses need to consider … Read More

Is it time to invest in a new home office chair?

The WFH novelty has worn off and your body will suffer if you continue perching on a kitchen stool, so the time has come to invest in a chair built to support you for hours. Whether you manage a military-issue straight back or slouch like the rest of us, sitting still for long periods is not good for the body … Read More

Office layouts for workplaces post-coronavirus

Australian architecture firm Woods Bagot has created four proposals for workplace design following coronavirus that merge working from home and office life to “strengthen culture and performance”. The Working from Home, Working from Work project was created by the architecture firm to move beyond health and safety measures, which are a given, and focus on encouraging collaboration and creativity during and after the … Read More

Posture tips for when you’re working from home

By now many of us have been working from home for a couple of weeks and are settled into a spot where we like to work whether it’s a home office or the kitchen table. But without the ergonomic chair and desk we usually have in the office it’s easy to spend hours hunched over a laptop screen. Or constantly … Read More

Office acoustics:striking the right note

Office acoustic design

The reality is that office life now tends to mean one of two extremes for most people. Either sitting in a noisy open plan environment or putting on a set of headphones and completely disconnecting from the environment we’re sitting in. According to research poor acoustics negatively affect employees’ productivity, stress levels and morale. Prominent architects, Gensler found in a recent study … Read More

Reception area design – how to make an entrance

Tips for designing a welcoming office reception

Your office reception area determines the first impression your business makes on clients, suppliers and visitors. The design and layout therefore need to be planned carefully so that visitors get a positive first impression the minute they step through the door. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression, so it pays to … Read More

Tips for maximising space in a small office

small office design layout

Your office layout is the most basic consideration. Can you make small changes to your current layout? Are you working in a cellular environment but find most of your activities are collaborative? Do you need to think about making your space more open plan? Does your current furniture support your way of working? Are you making use of each piece … Read More

How are agile working and flexible working different?

flexible working outdoors

What is the difference between agile and flexible working? For years the terms have been used interchangeably. Here we take a look at the difference and provide a simple definition of each and give a clear explanation on how they differ. Flexible working arrangements, which have been around for a long time refer to flexible working hours. These are usually … Read More

5 tips for designing office layouts

designing office layouts

Efficiency, wellbeing and productivity of employees are all objectives that are high on the agenda for the majority of businesses and a critical factor for achieving these objectives is the layout and planning of your workplace environment. Office layout planning is the process of aligning working functions and furniture to efficiently utilise space and maximise efficiency. When designing an office … Read More

5 tips to improve your workstation set up

bad workstation ergonomics

Here are a few ideas from Officeworks co-founder and qualified Osteopath Tim Hanwell on proactively improving your workstation setup to increase wellbeing and boost productivity. At Officeworks we see the benefits of moving around and leaving your desk at lunchtime which include breaking up a long day of sitting, a change in posture, fresh air and giving your eyes a … Read More

How to sit-stand correctly

standing desk position

As the UK sees a rise in demand for Sit-stand workstations, KI and Officeworks have created a flyer, and a video guide to help users best adjust their new sit-stand furniture. Following in the footsteps of the Scandinavian countries, research shows that sit-stand workstations and meeting tables can improve productivity and wellbeing, but without proper guidance these potential benefits could … Read More

Free office layout and design assessment

Free workplace layout and design assessment

While office space matters more than you think, your business’s most important asset is your people. To help them feel valued and give you and your customers 100%, the importance of the working environment shouldn’t be underestimated. To avoid the pitfalls of poor planning Officeworks offers its clients a free Expert Walkthrough – a no obligation office layout and design … Read More

Boosting productivity through workplace design

better productivity through office design

Taking the time to understand how a business environment affects an employees’ performance is crucial for an effective workplace design. And it was just this topic that was discussed and debated at a recent Officeworks business breakfast held at the Shard. Co-hosted with Leesman who provide the largest independent measure of workplace effectiveness, insights were shared into what are the … Read More

Workplace design trends for 2016

office layout and design trends 2016

What has become increasingly apparent is that the office isn’t just a place to work; it’s a constantly evolving space which needs to act as a driver of competitive advantage. So is it time to move in these design directions as predicted by Workplace Insight to keep workers engaged and get the most out of your office space? This is … Read More

Generation Y – who are they? And why are they different?

office design for generation Y

Generation Y and the Workplace – is this generation different or not and what does it mean for space and ergonomics? Much has been made of the perception that Generation Y individuals are different from previous generations. Evidenced, for example, by the way they act, connect and operate within office environments. However, our research suggests that in many ways they … Read More