Guest Post by Aimee Collins, Senior Principal, Design, the Americas, at Unispace

Employees are craving a workplace that empowers them to actually do their jobs. Today, more than half of employees say their current office does not enable them to do their best work. The good news is, with an updated design strategy, curated amenities and different space types, you can turn the tables, creating spaces tailored to your employees’ needs.

According to a recent Unispace Global Workplace Insights report, 52% of U.S. employees say it’s a struggle to perform their core work in their current office environment. This contradicts what most U.S. employers believe: 89% say they are confident their current offices are set up to empower productivity.

Law firm Orrick's office in Los Angeles. Photo: Lawrence Anderson

These findings are an opportunity for employers in 2024 to step up to the challenge of shaping a workplace that not only supports productivity—it inspires it.

Five steps to a more empowering workplace

Yesteryear’s design strategies no longer cut it for today’s talent. After all, how we work has changed, so it makes sense that where we work should evolve too.

Here are five ways to bring your workplace into the future, for a better experience for your people.

1. Define the purpose of the office for your organization. Support today’s hybrid workforce with highly functional, amenitized space tailored to their needs. A future-friendly workplace will enable your staff to choose where, when and how they do their work throughout the day.

2. Incorporate a variety of inclusive ‘me, we and us’ spaces. Everyone works differently, so all can benefit from a mix of spaces within each of these categories: The ‘Me’ options, providing focused, heads-down work or recharge areas; the ‘We’ options, such as conference and meeting rooms supporting small and large group collaborations; and the ‘Us’ options, like cafes and lounges where all employees can socialize and connect.
   
   Each of these spaces can play an active role in fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) by creating welcoming environments where all staff feel seen and thrive. For example, by offering quiet zones with lighting options, organizations can help ensure neurodiverse employees feel supported.

3. Choose art that drives impact. Too often, office art goes on the walls based on aesthetics alone. Bringing in intentional art that ties to your brand, culture and community can connect your workplace with your workforce.
   
   Using art thoughtfully can drive empathy and cultural pride in employees. For example, international law firm Orrick’s recent Art for Impact project engaged a local Los Angeles-based artist to create a set of anchor murals representing the community group A New Way of Life, whose work the organization wanted to promote.
    
4. Provide thoughtful, dedicated space to support employee wellbeing. Over the last three years, there has been renewed understanding of the importance of mental health in life, and at work. Supporting employee wellbeing in the workplace not only can improve satisfaction and productivity, but business continuity as well.

 According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year globally to depression and anxiety — at a cost of $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. In the American Psychological Association’s 2022 Work and Wellbeing Survey, 81% of workers say they plan to look for workplaces that support mental health in the future.

Seismic headquarters in San Diego. Photo: Lawrence Anderson

By strategically designing spaces that consider the needs of all employees, companies send a strong message that employee health and wellbeing programs aren’t just HR catchphrases; they’re values that come to life throughout the workplace.

5. Harness the right technology infrastructure to support a hybrid workforce. If your people are being asked to be in the office, integrated, working technology is a must. They should be able to sit at a desk and easily connect. Using best-in-class connective technology enables seamless collaboration for in-office and remote employees and a better experience for everyone. From collaborating with colleagues in offices around the world to using a convenient app to quickly book the right space to complete any project – upgrades in technology can positively impact productivity and employee enjoyment in the office.

 A more human-centric workplace is within reach

The habits and motivations of today’s talent look different than they did in the not-so-distant past.

By tailoring workplace purpose to the people who bring your brand to life, organizations can help ensure the workplace evolves to meet employees where they are today—and into the future, too.

Banner image: Bread Financial campus in Columbus, Ohio. Photo: Christopher Barrett

Aimee Collins is Senior Principal, Design, the Americas, at Unispace