What’s The Future of Work Look Like?

July 15, 2024

Future of Work conference room

Workplace Innovator Herman Miller Reveals Workspace Layouts of the Future

 

The work world continues to undergo a seismic shift. Cubicle farm, static office environments that existed prior to 2020 have outlived their usefulness. The rise of remote work technologies and evolving employee expectations have ushered in a new era. The era of the hybrid workplace.

This new reality presents both challenges and opportunities for organizations. While remote work offers flexibility and convenience, it can also lead to feelings of isolation and a disconnect from the company culture. The physical office, however, retains a crucial role in fostering collaboration, community building and individual focus.

Herman Miller, a leader in innovative workplace design, is at the forefront of shaping the future of work. 

We understand the need for adaptable, versatile spaces that cater to the diverse needs of businesses and a hybrid workforce. 

Building upon our established Living Office framework, we've developed a series of insight-led settings designed to support a variety of unique experiences in future office environments.

 

Rethinking the Office: Three Pillars of a Thriving Hybrid Workplace

In the hybrid workplace, the office transforms from a mandatory destination to a strategic resource.

Think about that for a moment.

The office transforms into a space that specifically supports activities that yield maximum effectiveness when conducted in person. In this new work landscape, Herman Miller focuses on three key pillars for success:

1. Community Socialization: Nurturing strong connections among employees fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. The office environment should encourage interaction and collaboration beyond immediate team circles.

2. Team Collaboration: Effective teams need dedicated spaces to brainstorm, problem-solve, and develop ideas together. These spaces should facilitate both planned meetings and spontaneous interactions that can spark innovation.

3. Individual Focus: While remote work offers flexibility, it can also be challenging to maintain focus in a home environment filled with distractions. The office should provide a respite, a quiet haven for concentrated work and deep thinking.

 

Future of Work Reunion Plaza

Reunion Plaza plan example

 

Let's delve deeper into Herman Miller's curated settings designed to address each of these pillars, offering a glimpse into the future of work:

Community Socialization: Reconnecting and Building Relationships

The rise of remote work has undeniably challenged the traditional sense of community within organizations. However, building strong connections across teams and departments remains crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and maintaining a vibrant company culture. 

Herman Miller's community socialization settings aim to create vibrant public spaces that encourage interaction and build bridges.

Reunion Plaza: Imagine a bustling town square within your office—a space buzzing with activity where employees can connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, or simply socialize during breaks. 

The Reunion Plaza embodies this concept, offering a vibrant and flexible public space at the heart of the office environment.

Open Forums: Open Forums provide versatile spaces for community gatherings, presentations, or informal discussions. 

Choose between the energetic character of Open Forum 1.0 with its diverse furnishing options or the streamlined elegance of Open Forum 2.0, where the focus remains firmly on people and their interactions.

These settings go beyond traditional meeting spaces. They’re designed to foster casual encounters, impromptu collaborations and relationships that go beyond immediate work projects.

 

Team Collaboration: Where Innovation Takes Shape

In the hybrid workplace, effective collaboration becomes even more critical. Teams need dedicated spaces to brainstorm, strategize and work together seamlessly. 

Herman Miller reimagines the workplace by shifting the emphasis from individual workstations to collaborative team areas.

Neighborhoods: These spaces are designed to be flexible neighborhoods with specific team dynamics in mind. 

Neighborhood 1.0 offers a balance of individual workspaces and collaboration areas, ideal for teams needing a comfortable environment for independent work and efficient communication. 

Need to foster more interdependent decision-making? Neighborhood 2.0 strikes the perfect balance. 

 

Neighborhood Collaboration in Waves

Neighborhood Collaboration layout example

 

As team needs evolve, Herman Miller's range of neighborhood settings offers a solution for every type of collaborative environment.

Dynamic Meeting Space: Move beyond the rigid confines of traditional conference rooms. 

Dynamic Meeting Spaces embrace a more fluid and adaptable approach to team meetings. 

Flexible furniture arrangements allow for a variety of configurations, catering to ideation sessions, presentations and small group discussions.

Prioritizing well-equipped and inviting team spaces helps organizations to encourage spontaneous interaction, spark creative thinking and empower teams to achieve their full potential.

 

Individual Focus: Finding Your Sanctuary

While remote work offers a wealth of benefits, maintaining focus in a home environment can be challenging. 

The allure of the refrigerator, the distractions of family members, or the constant barrage of notifications can significantly impact productivity. The future of work embraces the office as a haven for focused and deep thinking.

Study Hall: Picture a quiet sanctuary dedicated to focused work and productive contemplation. 

The Study Hall embodies this concept, offering individual workstations with ample personal space and minimal distractions. 

Natural light and ergonomic furniture further enhance the environment for optimal focus and concentration.

 

Future of Work Study Hall

The Study Hall plan works well for dedicated and focused work

 

Quiet Lounge: Not everyone thrives in complete silence. The Quiet Lounge provides a haven for those who need to relax and unwind while remaining connected to the community. 

Imagine a comfortable space with soft seating, warm lighting, and a calming atmosphere, perfect for catching up on emails, reading industry publications, or simply taking a mental break.

The Focus Room is the perfect solution for ultimate privacy and concentration. 

These soundproofed and visually enclosed spaces provide a quiet sanctuary for focused work, confidential calls, or simply escaping the hustle and bustle of the open office environment.

Retreat: Sometimes, a few minutes of complete withdrawal can be the key to refocusing and recharging. The retreat provides a dedicated space for employees to escape the stresses of work for a short period of time. 

Whether it's used for meditation, mindfulness exercises, or simply a quiet moment of reflection, the retreat offers a valuable resource for promoting employee well-being and mental clarity.

 

Connect with an Expert

Would a transition to a hybrid workplace be welcomed within your company? What type of environment would work best for your team? Are there ways to reduce your physical office footprint while maintaining or adding headcount? 

Businesses that focus on incorporating a hybrid workspace tend to reap the benefits of a productive, positive work culture that also attracts top talent more easily. 

Do you have questions about how embracing a hybrid workplace can empower your teams to thrive and your bottom line to grow? Or about how the look and feel of your workspace can help attract and retain top talent?

Contact PURE today and we'll reach out to discuss actionable insights on how to create a hybrid environment where your team can thrive and your business can shine.