Stephanie L’Estrange of Taylor Design asks: do our workspace environments inspire our employees to not “just work,” but to do their very best work?

By Stephanie L’Estrange, DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN

Throughout history, organizations have provided physical space for their employees to work. Just. Work. There are examples dating back to ancient Rome of public buildings being used by workers as a shared space. The modern work schedule began to form in the late 19th Century and the concept of office cubicles was created in 1967.

In 2021, the physical office has fallen under renewed scrutiny as it seeks to accommodate changing workplace practices in a post-pandemic economy. Theories about workplace evolution are the subject of everything from articles in trade publications, to white papers, to TED Talks. Never has the intersection of office space and function been so connected to the very real competition for talent.

Acknowledging the new workplace paradigm with nuts-and-bolts improvements is wise and necessary, but the post-pandemic office also offers an opportunity that many designers and corporate real estate professionals may overlook – inspiration. This is a perfect time to question whether our workspace environments inspire our employees to not “just work,” but to do their very best work.

Read the full article here: https://www.workdesign.com