Hotdesking Galore – Alcatel-Lucent
We’ve featured companies in the past which are utilising hotdesking to the maximum in their office space environments, namely the Microsoft and Unilever offices. Hotdesking is growing to be hugely popular, giving employees the flexibility of not having a desk assigned to them. Hotdesking encourages collaboration and creativity too.
Alcatel-Lucent switched to a hotdesking work place model when the two companies merged their office space after completing a corporate merger in 2006. What’s interesting is that the new office offers 250 flexible work stations for a total of 450 employees, and that 90% of the walls in the office are made of glass – gives new meaning to an open workspace!
If you want to find out more about hotdesking visit the eOffice website which offers a variation of options.
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Think outside the box – say no to cubicles!
The New York Times recently posted a study undertaken by the University of Michigan which seems to show that our physical bodily experiences can actually help generate and stimulate cognitive solutions. The study, which will be published in the journal of Psychological Science soon, involved 102 New York University undergraduates who were asked to generate a word (“tape,” for example) that related to each of three presented clue words (“measure,” “worm” and “video”). Some students were randomly assigned to do this while sitting inside a 125-cubic-foot box made of plastic pipe and cardboard while the rest got to sit and think outside (and next to) the box. The study found that those thinking outside the box were significantly more creative as compared to those thinking inside the box – in fact they came up with over 20 percent more creative solutions.
The City of Vancouver's Engineering Office
CompTIA, IT company based in the USA
Studies such as this demonstrate what eOffice has always stood by – great design not only looks nice but also has a positive practical effect by increasing productivity and creativity in the office. That’s why we love to showcase the various offices around the world which are not only designed impeccabily, but are also adopting innovative approaches to the work place such as coworking and hotdesking. Such modern approaches are not just gimmicks, they are clearly the way forward!
[via New York Times and Fast Code Design]
Microsoft – hotdesking in Amsterdam
Just a short drive from Schipol airport, the Microsoft office in Amsterdam is a world away from the traditional corporate office space which can be seen replicated all over the world. This office is completely permanent desk free, in other words the office fully employs hotdesking. For such a large office space this is no mean feat! The company wanted to put the focus firmly on coworking and collaboration, employees are allowed the freedom to work in the area of the office which is the most suitable for the type of work they are doing at any given time. Microsoft was so committed to the idea of hotdesking in Amsterdam that there aren’t even offices or assigned desks for senior employees.
According to a press release the benefits of coworking and hotdesking to Microsoft are clear:
- A 30% reduction in real estate costs
- Increased productivity
- Enhanced market reputation and ability to attract and retain top talent
- Increased employee mobility
- Benefits for the environment
Hotdesking with a hint of privacy
The Eclipse Office Hotdesking System was designed to provide an adjustable private hotdesking office space within an open plan environment. It allows workers to access a versatile and adjustable space, thus hopefully increasing communication streams and productivity, while still allowing for privacy to be maintained. This system seems to tap straight into the growing trend of hot desking in the office, and I personally love any sort of synergy between futuristic technology and office furniture – if only it was real!
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