by Rebecca Walker — November 12, 2010—Most organizations are actively trying to reduce their office space, according to new figures out today from the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM).
The BIFM’s recent report, Post-recessional Workplaces Review, conducted by Leesman, found that almost two thirds of organizations are trying to reduce their office space by increasing the density of occupiers. But rather than resulting in more crowded offices, the BIFM found that we are working differently and using space more effectively.
However, flexible working strategies bring their own challenges in terms of infrastructure and workplace design, admitted Tim Oldman, managing director at Leesman. “It is no longer acceptable to throw in some unallocated desks to a plan and refer to them as ‘hot’ or ‘hotelling’ desks and think your dispersed teams will be catered for,” he said.
Instead, Leesman says staff expect a range of other spaces that can support their varying work needs.
The BIFM’s Post-recessional Workplaces Review has also found that almost half of workplaces are not taking into account the different workplace needs of the youngest and oldest members of staff.
The poll found that few organizations are doing something to understand the impact that an ageing workforce will have on their company, when in reality such a shift will have a significant impact on the design and management of workplaces, said Leesman.
“The oldest and youngest employee groups look for very different things in their workplaces” said BIFM Strategy Director Stephen Bennett. “So those responsible for workplace are going to have some big issues to address in the way that they create effective office spaces for an increasingly diverse workforce, not to mention an increasing mobile one.”
For more information, see the BIFM Web site.
