Should You Implement Activity-Based Working In Your Modern Office?

[April 2022 Update]

Activity-based working has become a popular solution to the problems that come with open office layouts. By giving employees a variety of spaces to work in, companies can increase collaboration and productivity. Activity-based working also allows for maximum use of office space. It also improves employee focus and enhances employee performance.

Today's offices are rapidly changing. Companies have knocked down physical walls and removed cubicles in favour of open office layouts. However, open offices come with their own sets of problems. Teams are easily distracted by noise.

So, what is activity-based working?

Activity-based working is a work methodology that focuses on the use of space and office furniture to create different types of work areas. In an activity-based work office, employees are not limited to one specific area or desk. Instead, they are able to move around the office as needed in order to complete their tasks.

If you have friends over, you entertain them in the living room. It’s the same with the activity-based working setup. It recognizes that each employee has different roles to play and they need diversity in work settings to do their tasks efficiently.

They could start their day in a private space to finish a presentation and then move to a meeting pod or a conference room to share it with their colleagues. This flexibility provides employees with more autonomy, improves their productivity and allows them to feel more stimulated in the workplace.

How can you design an office layout that works best for your company?

There are a few things to keep in mind when designing an activity-based work office. First, you’ll need to create different types of work areas that cater to the various tasks your employees will be performing. This might include private spaces for individual work, collaborative spaces for team projects, and social spaces for networking.

You’ll also need to consider the layout of your office. In order to encourage movement and collaboration, you’ll want to create an open floor plan with plenty of communal spaces. You should also make sure that there are enough private spaces for employees who need to focus or take a break from the noise and distractions of an open office.

Activity-based working is quickly becoming the new norm in the workplace. By creating a flexible office layout that caters to the needs of your employees, you can improve collaboration and productivity among your team. Not only will this increase efficiency in your office, but it will also make your employees happier and more productive.

Major Benefits of Activity Based Working

Maximum Use of Office Space

Whether it's a small organisation pressured to design a cost-efficient space or a large company occupying several floors, an activity based work environment allows them to achieve maximum use out of every space in their office, especially as headcount increases.

With an activity based working strategy, companies can have their employees share desks and the alternative spaces in the office. From soft seating areas to long tables and corner high tops, employees have a vast array of options for heads-down, productive work.

Better Employee Performance

According to the Harvard Business Review, employees with greater flexibility and collaboration are generally more productive and happier with their jobs. Collaboration tends to increase in an activity based workplace due to the fluid nature of unassigned desks and shared seating. Employees from different departments become exposed to one another often, opening up opportunities for knowledge sharing that's hard to come by in a fixed setup. Shared desking also allows employees to develop friendships with people they don’t normally interact with.

Enhanced Employee Focus

Open plan offices offer many benefits to the modern workforce but sometimes, employees may find background noise distracting. Activity based workplaces typically have1 'focus rooms' that allow employees to escape from the hustle and bustle of open plan offices to concentrate on time-sensitive tasks.

What are the disadvantages of an activity-based working environment

While activity-based working is often seen as the ideal work methodology, it also has a few disadvantages. First, it can be difficult to focus in an open office environment with constant noise and distractions. Employees may also find it difficult to concentrate when they are constantly moving around the office.

Second, not all employees are comfortable working in a flexible environment. Some employees may prefer to have a dedicated desk and workspace where they can focus on their tasks uninterrupted.

Finally, activity-based working can be expensive to implement. You’ll need to invest in different types of furniture and office spaces to accommodate a variety of work styles. Additionally, you’ll need to provide training for your employees on how to use the new office layout.

Despite these disadvantages, activity-based working is still a popular choice for many companies because of the numerous benefits it offers. With the right planning and execution, you can create an activity-based office that’s perfect for your employees and your business.

Activity-based working is a popular choice among employers because of the benefits it offers. However, there are also disadvantages to having an open office space that requires employees to be constantly moving around and collaborating with their colleagues. We hope this article has helped you understand more about activity-based working and how it may or may not work for your business!