Articles & News About Jobs & Employment

Office Space in the Changing Work Environment

Globally, companies are embracing new working practices and technologies, changing the demands placed on office design. Employees used to instant messaging and online communication, expect their jobs and office design to reflect this dynamic culture and employers are responding.

Research by residential property company, Savills, revealed understanding the needs of workers has never been more important. Its report, What Workers Want in Property, conducted by YouGov, polled more than 4,500 employees. It discovered more than 82 per cent of respondents rated immediate workspace concerns, such as comfort, heating and lighting, as the most important.

Potential employees are also changing. More job seekers are looking at a company's environmental credentials before applying for work. Savills revealed: "Where respondents rated employer image as important, 80 per cent placed the same level of importance on an employer's possession of an environmental/recycling policy."

Not only are firms looking at innovative office relocations and fresh office interior design, they are also reconsidering how they use office staff. The recent report by Sainsbury's HR director, Imelda Walsh, has been accepted by the government and business is now allowing more people to apply for flexible working conditions.

Increasingly powerful, networked computers and web-based applications are creating virtual offices and more employees than ever work from home.

This migration to flexible working need not be a concern for organizations according to Brendan Barber, head of the Trades Union Congress, who says employers should support it.

He recently told the Work Wise UK summit, changing working practices has to involve "drawing on a range of measures to realign employment culture and people management practices ? in ways that match both the needs of the business, and the aspirations of staff for a better quality of working life".

Office interior design, like the new workforce, needs to be flexible. Professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), recently completed a successful office relocation, having first considered the cost of moving.

Its new property at the Spencer Dock site at the North Quays in Dublin's docklands is an example of new office design. PwC established focus groups with its new office furniture designer, Steelcase and Architects Mullally Leonard Partnership. Having consulted on all aspects of the fit out, Steelhouse said it "ensured that the design was aligned closely with the actual needs and aspirations of PwC people".

One element of their office interior design is now common in new buildings and much sought after by firms conducting strategic relocations: informality.

The company incorporated a variety of social spaces in its new office design. Caf?s, atriums, restaurants, even small gyms are now featuring in commercial property designs.

Working practices have also dramatically changed. Younger workers are bringing an appetite for technology into the workplace, which is challenging established methods.

Dan Rasmus, director of information worker vision at Microsoft suggests firms "capture those smart ideas and put them into practice", making use of the latest internet technology in the office. He advised companies "deploy a fluid collaboration environment where employees can work together through Web 2.0 tools such as portals, blogs, and wikis". IBM is one firm where social networking has been used as a means of augmenting office design, bringing people together with its Facebook-style tool, Beehive.

Despite ongoing changes, the physical office is still a company's focal point. Homeworkers only account for a small percentage of the labour force (12.2 per cent) and creating a welcoming office space is still key to achieving productivity and job satisfaction.

Shivani Gurtu-Louth - Operations Manager of Devono Property Limited. Devono are the only commercial property agents in London to exclusively represent tenants looking for office space and commercial property in London to rent. Our aim is to secure the best commercial property at the best price. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Shivani Gurtu-Louth Devono Operations Manager Tel(DDI): +44 (0)20 7096 9911 E-mail: sg@devono.com

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

Work at Home Data Entry Jobs, Work at Home, Data Entry Jobs
37 Work at Home Data Entry Jobs - The New Age Career Move

Work at Home Agent - Job Ideas For a Work at Home Agent
Are you interested in jobs that require you to spend hours on the phone talking to customers If you like personal relations work and have good interpersonal skills, then do consider the opportunity of being a work at home agent

Home Computer Work - 3 Ideas For Home Computer Work Jobs
Surely, many people out there have told you about the wonders of working from home and being your own boss Well, not only are you able to save on transportation costs and have more time to spend with your family, you are also able to do whatever you like, whenever you feel like it

At Home Work - Find Your Next Work At Home Job
At home work is easy to find these days thanks to the internet Work from home jobs are a form of self employment, which is hitting today's society in huge numbers

2 Major Reasons to Get a Computer Work at Home Job
It surprises me how many people are still skeptical about putting their computer to work Thousands of people earn work at home incomes via the internet

Work From Home - How To Prepare For A Work From Home Job
Surely, you must have already heard about the perks of working from home Not only do you get the opportunity of being with your loved ones, but also the chance of earning good money doing what you like

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs - 4 Important Things to Consider Before Starting This Career Path
When you are selecting legitimate work from home jobs career, money is important, but there are some other factors that should be considered before making the final decision Before beginning even legitimate work from home jobs career, you should think about some of the factors that will help to make your venture succeed or fail

Work At Home Job Versus Work At Home Business
I often hear people complain about how they shouldnt have to pay for a business opportunity because "you wouldnt have to pay to get a job outside the home." It irritates me when I read that. Not because I think you should have to pay for a job - even a work at home position - its because they think that their should be no investment to start up a work at home business.

Work at Home Businesses Versus Work at Home Jobs
Is a work at home business better than a work at home job? You bet. Hands down. But each option has pros and cons. It may be that for right now you're just not ready to start a work at home business. Its a big committment. That's OK. But if you're dedicated, smart and willing to work harder than most, settling for a work at home job could be selling yourself short.

Legitimate Work At Home Jobs - Become Wealthy Working From Home
It all started when I was franticly going from company to company passing out my resume, needing a job so bad it hurt I had a college degree but could not get hired no matter what for the life of me

Legitimate Work at Home Jobs Career - 4 Amazing Tips to Increase Efficiency
When you have picked one of the many legitimate work at home jobs career and are ready to settle down and make some money, it helps to make your home based business as efficient as possible One of the most important benefits resulting from obtaining legitimate work at home jobs career is the ability to improve income levels through increased efficiency in performing the tasks associated with the jobs

Job Work From Home On My Computer
In my long quest for a job, work from home on my computer seemed to be the best available option Especially, since I needed to work around the many schedules of my family

On Campus Interviews - A Chance For Your "First Job" As Well As Career Employment
During the course of training or secondary educations some organizations - companies, firms as well as major non-profit organizations of great status and reputation will offer campus interviews to graduating students in such fields as engineering, electronics, business management, law accounting, computer information systems and marketing

Work at Home Data Entry Jobs Career Are Available Now
Work at home data entry jobs career allow you the freedom to spend more time with your family It is perfect employment for someone who is looking for a job they can control themselves