by Brianna Crandall — June 29, 2016 — Tork, a hygiene brand of global hygiene and forest products company SCA, launched its 2016 Office Trend Report this week at the BOMA International Annual Conference and Expo in Washington, DC.
The report includes data on what facilities managers and their clients think buildings of the future will entail.
A preview of the Office Trend Report 2016 appears below.
The Intelligent Office: Around 40% of all office workers have experienced washrooms that have not been properly cleaned, as well as empty paper and soap dispensers. However, given that FMs (73%) have begun realizing intelligent hygiene solutions’ potential, they have an opportunity to make working lives better with increased connectivity.
- For example, intelligent hygiene solutions can serve as the backbone to improving building performance, benefitting both washroom users and facility staff. One such solution is Tork EasyCube, a smart restroom system that uses sensors on soap, bath tissue and hand towel dispensers to transmit information to a Web application indicating product refill levels. This data keeps building managers and cleaners abreast of restroom traffic, alerting them of exactly when and where potential issues arise so they can prevent them in time.
The Conscious Office: Workers want better buildings. More than half of office workers say that their employer cares about their well-being, and a third say that their office is designed with the employees’ health as a first priority. This is good news for FMs as high-quality facilities management continues to be a key factor for tenants deciding which offices to rent.
- With the increasing popularity of open-floor plans and the fact that employees spend most of their time at the office, over half of workers globally often worry about getting infected by colleagues going to work when they are sick. One way to help prevent germ spread and keep staff healthy is the use of touchless technology. For example, Tork Image Design’s no-touch stainless steel dispensers release hand soap and towels without requiring employees to come into contact with the dispenser.
The Flexible Office: Office workers want it all — peace and quiet as well as social, interactive spaces. Given that needs differ from day to day, as well as between different workers, a one-size-fits-all office will not do the trick. Building managers can make small but impactful changes to improve tenant satisfaction.
- In large office spaces, a wide variety of events (e.g., client presentations, staff meetings, celebrations, etc.) can take place at any moment. With intelligent restroom solutions such as Tork EasyCube, cleaning staff can stay abreast of washroom usage and product levels, helping cleaning staff navigate the challenge of keeping restrooms fully stocked and clean when occupancy and traffic can vary day by day.
Pursuit of Happiness: Healthy employees are happy employees. A full 79% of survey respondents shared that they would inform their office managers or FM if they are not satisfied with the quality of hygiene products.
- Tork Premium Hand Towels, said to be preferred in softness, performance and appearance, can elevate any washroom experience and dry hands completely. In fact, the superior quality of these hand towels allows Tork to guarantee a 10% product usage reduction when companies make the switch from any competitive folded towel brand.
The Tork Office Trend Report 2016: The Office of Tomorrow — Intelligent, Conscious and Flexible is available online.
