June 30, 2016 by

Design News You Can Use – Office Myths Edition

Looking for a major dose of news you can use? This month, Workplace Strategist Joelle Jach busts some of the biggest workplace myths. Do exercise balls increase productivity? Is technology necessary in the office? Do millennials even exist? For all these burning questions and more, we’ve got you covered.

Jump around: Detractors of the open office often bemoan activity-based working, claiming it causes excessive distractions and inadequate productivity. But, as a recent study finds, ABW can increase satisfaction, collaboration and interaction– provided employees are actually mobile.
Tech specs: When it comes to increasing productivity, efficiency and the “cool factor” around the office, technology tends to be on many clients’ wish lists, but it can also do more harm than good if not implemented correctly. Here are the questions to ask when considering new workplace technology.
Ball out: In the quest for more ergonomic seating, many people have adopted the exercise ball as workspace seating. While a good idea in theory, studies say that the ball may not actually be appropriate ergonomic seating; so if you want to have a ball, you might want to sit in a chair instead.
The kids are alright: These days, it’s not hard to find critics of millennials. The workplace’s largest (and maybe weirdest) generation has garnered plenty of disdain. But millennials aren’t all bad, and the typical millennial might even be as mythical as a unicorn.
Wear to work: If you’re a fan of Mad Men, chances are you’ve swooned over the wardrobe choices on the show, and maybe you’re wondering what happened to the old definition of business casual. As Vanessa Friedman discovers, we may be experiencing the end of the working wardrobe as we know it.
Open up: There’s no shortage of open office vitriol out there. Many employees feel uncomfortable working out in the open for reasons ranging from excessive noise to feelings of exposure. Harvard Business School professor Ethan Bernstein explains the deeper reasons why workers may detest open offices.
Fun house: For many years, office design focused primarily on productivity and concentration rather than on cultivating fun and games. You might be happy to hear, though, that the workplace of the future incorporates fun and play all throughout the office.
Pro bold: Over the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in the nontraditional gig economy, with less and less emphasis on permanent employees and a greater push for freelancers or contractors. While you may think LinkedIn would be least likely to capitalize on this trend, it has– and here’s what it’s doing.
Setting the bar: Opponents of modern, open office designs often point to law firms as examples of traditional, enclosed office space that should never be changed. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Sarah Kellogg doesn’t agree and explains why law firms should embrace a shift in office design.
Friday Free Day: Especially around the summer months, it can seem like Fridays in the office are particularly empty. While you might take a Friday off every now and again for vacation, O2E Brands CEO Brian Scudamore thinks you should take every Friday off as a Free Day.