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Home is where the heart is, right?
Sure. But home is also where comfort resides. And in the last several months, that’s never been a truer sentiment, especially since many of us have been working from our living rooms, patios, and kitchens.
2021 is right around the corner, and with every new year comes a resolution or two. This year, we’re hoping to transfer the holistic comfort and support we experienced at home to the office. That, of course, brings traditional office furniture into sharp focus. Who wants to go from a cozy couch and laptop to a rigid conference chair and filing cabinet that always sticks?
It’s time for a new normal. And to us, that means you should not only love what you do, you should love the space you do it in.
This year, many of us got used to cooking a meal while being on a conference call or writing a presentation in our slippers. Our new normal still changes on the daily. And with employees tentatively returning to brick-and-mortar offices, the question of how to maintain that new normal in an old space looms: How do we collaborate in the same space but at a distance? How do we maintain work-life balance without sacrificing one or the other?
“If I’m a business owner, one of the first things I’m asking is ‘what’s the point of coming back to the office?’ We have to answer that question honestly,” said The Hon’s Company Seating Product Manager Jeremy Tinkler. “We now know we can be productive and efficient from home, so what do we gain by returning?”
While the “pros” certainly include comfort and safety, the main “con” seems to be lack of in-person collaboration.
“Most people will tell you that video conferencing just isn’t the same as chatting face-to-face. Although employees love the relaxation and familiarity of home, they miss co-worker camaraderie, too,” Tinkler said. “That tells me the goal needs to be a bit of both, and that begins with considering what an in-office brainstorming session looks and feels like now. I can safely say that begins with the furniture.”
People have always desired a choice. Flexibility in their work schedules, options that fit their needs (both physical and emotional), and the ability to decide what kind of environment they’re most productive in. For every millennial who loves bright colors and an energetic, vibrant work culture, there’s a traditionalist who prefers classic mahogany and formal meetings.
“Adaptability is non-negotiable now,” said The Hon Company’s Senior Industrial Designer Dave Mehaffey. “The fact that employees have been working from home for months and have gotten used to entirely different ways and places of multitasking and brainstorming can’t be ignored. It’s time for businesses to offer a whole new kind of flexibility, and that starts with dynamic workspaces that fit individuals, not the masses.”
Today, it’s uncommon for workers to sit in the same chair all day. Most of us are on the move – collaborating in the corner here, meeting one-on-one over coffee there. Having a chair that’s designed to support “short duration” work areas (1-3 hours at a time) - plus a built-in consideration for different body types and workstyles – is a no-brainer these days.
A great solution? HON’s new Cliq task chair.
“With Cliq, chair height is the only adjustment the user makes. After that, the chair is very intuitive – it responds to body movement, which creates an ideal seating solution for short-duration spaces,” Mehaffey said.
Cliq doesn’t just check the comfort box. It gets the pretty vote, too. With modern, streamlined aesthetics and a clean linear back and arms, the chair is sleek and stylish.
“There’s no question there’s beauty in simplicity,” Mehaffey said. “Plus, Cliq delivers on adaptability and aesthetics. It’s a win/win.”
So, now you know what’s important to employees returning to work: Comfort, flexibility, adaptability, and environment. But now comes the important part: following through with a plan and sticking to it. Like a low-carb diet or learning a new skill, that can be tricky. But it’s easier than you think, and the rewards are priceless.
“Many employees who are segueing from home back into the office will need an adjustment period. Patience and empathy go a long way, and one of the best ways you can support your employees is to provide them with a peaceful, productive environment that suits their physical and emotional needs,” Tinkler said. “The investment will come back to you tenfold.”
For more information on updating your office space to meet the needs of your returning employees, please visit hon.com.
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