What is an agile workplace & what are the benefits of agile workplace design?
With traditional working styles becoming less popular with employees, employers are looking for new ways to encourage teams back into the office post-pandemic.
Office design has evolved over the past few years adapting to these changes, by supporting more flexible working styles including agile working and the need for an agile workplace.
What is agile working?
Agile working empowers staff to work where, when, and how they choose, allowing for complete flexibility.
What is an agile workplace?
Unlike the typical 9-5 traditional work environment, an agile workplace proactively encourages employees to move around the office freely.
Rather than being assigned designated desks, employees are encouraged to work in a setting that is best suited for the task at hand.
Why are agile workplaces becoming popular?
Even before the pandemic, agile workplaces were becoming more popular, with traditional offices evolving to become more flexible to meet the changing needs of employees.
With most workforces utilising hybrid working patterns, adapting a traditional office into an agile workplace allows companies to cut costs by repurposing or reducing unused office space.
What is the difference between flexible working and agile working?
Agile working focuses on using the workplace in a way that suits employees, whereas flexible working focuses more on the physical workplace and the freedom to choose working hours.
What are the benefits of agile workplace design?
Today’s agile workplaces offer a range of benefits to both employers and employees.
Better space efficiency
According to research by The Advanced Workplace Associates, two-thirds of office desks are now unused, and offices are almost half empty even on the busiest days.
A transition to an agile workplace is an opportunity to optimise your office layout, reclaiming unused desks or traditional meeting spaces that are no longer needed.
Talent attraction and retention
Ambitious young employees want to work in attractive, modern environments that motivate them.
Research highlights that 92% of millennials identify flexibility as a top priority when choosing where to work.
Agile working breaks up the monotony of spending an entire day in one space, helping keep employees engaged and fostering trust.
Improved Collaboration
The freedom to move around the office allows for teamwork and experimentation.
Additionally, agile workspaces encourage communication in open and more relaxed spaces enables ideas to be shared more freely between otherwise isolated departments.
Higher employee satisfaction
An agile workplace encourages employees to approach tasks on their terms, managing their workload and time effectively without strict guidance.
The flexibility to work how and when they need can be linked to both an increased level of job satisfaction and an increased level of productivity.
Increased productivity
Research has shown that the noise and lack of privacy in conventional office spaces have a negative impact on cognitive function, decrease concentration levels and increase employee dissatisfaction.
An agile workplace allows employees to both collaborate when the job requires and work alone.
Types of agile space
An agile workplace can come in all shapes and sizes, and is completely dependent on a business’s needs.
Various shared and individual spaces are required so workers can freely move around, choosing the right space and comfort level to work effectively.
Examples of essential elements in an agile working environment include open-plan spaces, quiet zones, break-out spaces, private booths and resource areas.
Is it time for a change?
Agile workplaces empower teams to create their best work by providing flexible environments to suit their needs.
If you’d like to transition into a more collaborative and flexible working space, contact (0)208 057 7077 to find out how our office design team can help you.
