There are so many aspects to consider while creating a layout plan for your new office. This task can be daunting and intimidating, especially when you’re shifting to a new space and have to start from scratch. Sometimes, it becomes so intimidating that you consider only the costs and thoroughly neglect the various psychological aspects of ergonomic office design.

Open office designs are trending at the moment, thanks to the tech giants for actively adopting them. But these designs have also resulted in many unforeseen issues, thus, forcing these giants to rethink and innovate their workspaces. As a result, the ABW environment created by Activity-based working consultants has become the most favoured outcome as it incorporates the best benefits of an open workplace layout and avoids its general disadvantages that hamper the productivity and focus of the employees.

So, let us take a look at the credible reasons why activity-based working is a better alternative for open office design.

• Open office design: the ups and downs

True to its name, open workplaces are spaces that do not contain and divisions or distinct rooms. Workstations are not divided but shared among the employees. Plus, there is minimum or no partitioning between employee desks, break rooms and meeting rooms.

The concept of an open workplace shows great promise as it reorganises a traditional workplace. Wherein, the employees interact with each other and are not just confined to their office or cubicles. Also, it is believed that casual conversations like these can often result in greater innovation and creativity. Because there is a free exchange of ideas, which is not limited to closed-door meetings.

In terms of cost, open workplaces are very cost-effective with less furniture and fewer walls in between. Such a design also saves energy by harnessing natural light and creating better airflow.

However, studies and home office workstation assessments have proved that open designs have not proved to be as efficient and productive as they were initially planned to be. There are many reasons for this decline, such as open office spaces being replete with distractions and noise, which are major contributors to reducing efficiency and productivity in employees.

With frequent visual distractions, interruptions and noise, employees find it extremely difficult to concentrate on the work at hand in open workplace setups. Additionally, privacy is also an issue in an open workplace environment, which not many employees are comfortable with as well. Imagine putting an efficient introvert into an open space. They cannot possibly work like that.

• Advantages of activity-based working (ABW)

As per ergonomic specialists, the major factor that differentiates an ABW environment from and the open office is “choice”. An Activity-based working set up provides a certain versatility and flexibility, which is lacking in an open workplace setup. ABW offers your employees a choice of multiple work environments, with tailored spaces to do particular tasks. This is much better than forcing your employees to do all their work in a single work environment.

The multiple options in ABW include:

• Soundproof acoustic booths for confidential and personal calls
• Designated common areas for meeting and discussion
• Isolated rooms for undistracted and undisturbed work
• Dedicated lounges for socializing and relaxing

This model appeals to every employee regardless of their work profile and the given job for the day. Additionally, ABW empowers your employees to choose what’s better for them. This feeling translates directly to increased productivity and greater job satisfaction.

ABW also facilitate ergonomics. Wherein, it is easy to provide various furniture options to your employees when the layout has enough spaces for different rooms.

Every organization envisions a healthy, productive and efficient work environment, which can be effectively achieved with the implementation of ABW with the help of Activity-based working consultants. After all, employees feel satisfied at work when they feel more empowered. And they feel more empowered when they can take decisions that benefit them and your company. To get home office workstation assessments done by an ergonomic specialist in Sydney, visit us at https://www.ergoworksconsulting.com.au/.

Summary - Activity-based working gives employees multiple work environments to choose from. Thus, employees feel empowered and satisfied in the workplace.