What's New in the Workplace
WHAT’S “NEWS” IN THE WORKPLACE
HON’s perspective on the latest news and trends within the workplace
HON SUMMER “FURNITURE FAIR”
In Iowa, summer means fun, fried-food-filled fairs, with the recent Iowa State Fair holding title as one of the largest fairs in the country. For Iowa-based furniture manufacturer, The HON Company, summer has meant new updates to height adjustable tables, fabrics and finishes, the 10500 Series™, and HON’s healthcare solutions.
Take a virtual walk through HON’s summer “furniture fair” in one of the recent Moving Forward Together HON blog posts.
Take a virtual walk through HON’s summer “furniture fair” in one of the recent Moving Forward Together HON blog posts.
DESIGN YOUR OFFICE SPACE TO FULFILL EMPLOYEES’ MOST BASIC NEEDS
Entrepreneur contributor, Max Chopovsky, illustrates how office design can support basic employee needs in this recent article.
Chopovsky suggests office kitchen and dining areas should reflect a welcoming host to encourage employees to spend their break time together in the space rather than outside the office. He also explains employers can create a sense of “family” by utilizing open communal areas and caféesque spaces where people can build relationships.
Chopovsky cites confidence and self-esteem as two of the most basic human needs and suggests employers can improve both by removing hierarchy from the workplace. This can be done through design, substituting traditional, long and narrow conference tables for more inclusive, collaborative meeting spaces.
“By providing employees multiple communal areas with different types of furniture, you can boost the mood of many,” says Whitney Potratz, HON Integrated Design Solutions Supervisor. “Including collaborative seating as well as standing areas will create an atmosphere where people want to gather and share ideas. Also, providing secluded areas where employees can focus away from others will help promote a productive and less stressful environment. Accommodating a variety of work styles will help employees feel like their individual needs are being met. ”
Chopovsky suggests office kitchen and dining areas should reflect a welcoming host to encourage employees to spend their break time together in the space rather than outside the office. He also explains employers can create a sense of “family” by utilizing open communal areas and caféesque spaces where people can build relationships.
Chopovsky cites confidence and self-esteem as two of the most basic human needs and suggests employers can improve both by removing hierarchy from the workplace. This can be done through design, substituting traditional, long and narrow conference tables for more inclusive, collaborative meeting spaces.
“By providing employees multiple communal areas with different types of furniture, you can boost the mood of many,” says Whitney Potratz, HON Integrated Design Solutions Supervisor. “Including collaborative seating as well as standing areas will create an atmosphere where people want to gather and share ideas. Also, providing secluded areas where employees can focus away from others will help promote a productive and less stressful environment. Accommodating a variety of work styles will help employees feel like their individual needs are being met. ”
FOUR WAYS TO PREPARE FOR THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE
According to a recent FastCompany article, millennials face a much more volatile workplace than ever. Reporter, Erin Plamer, offers four ways to adapt:
Strive for compensation, but focus on culture
Be loyal, but move around
Be the leading industry voice, but not the only voice
Work hard, but keep life balanced
Palmer suggests that a good culture fit should be a higher priority for Millennials considering a job, and that company culture will motivate employees to stay engaged more than a big salary. Those who hope to reach leadership roles need to be prepared to invest a lot of time in order to become established.
“One of the most difficult contradictions to master at any age is work-life balance. Workplaces of the future will have more room to work flexibly, but the fact remains that to get to the top, you'll have to put in many, many hours,” says Palmer.
“As the workforce evolves, companies are seeing more Millennials join the ranks of their organization,” says Mary Essman, PHR- HON Member and Community Relations. “With this comes a different set of wants and desires as well as philosophies on how to approach work. As part of the Member and Community Relations team at HON, we always encourage new members to immerse themselves in our culture and network as much as possible. Several recommendations we would make to all hires, including Millennials, are:
Having a successful career and landing a leadership role within an organization takes hard work, discipline, and a willingness to succeed. Being flexible, listening to what leaders in your company say, and understanding how to apply it to your current role are just a few ways to help you get there. “
What’s “News” was created to communicate the latest news and trends that HON, as a company sees, along with how they are applying them to better serve customers.
To learn more about about The HON Company, visit hon.com.
Strive for compensation, but focus on culture
Be loyal, but move around
Be the leading industry voice, but not the only voice
Work hard, but keep life balanced
Palmer suggests that a good culture fit should be a higher priority for Millennials considering a job, and that company culture will motivate employees to stay engaged more than a big salary. Those who hope to reach leadership roles need to be prepared to invest a lot of time in order to become established.
“One of the most difficult contradictions to master at any age is work-life balance. Workplaces of the future will have more room to work flexibly, but the fact remains that to get to the top, you'll have to put in many, many hours,” says Palmer.
“As the workforce evolves, companies are seeing more Millennials join the ranks of their organization,” says Mary Essman, PHR- HON Member and Community Relations. “With this comes a different set of wants and desires as well as philosophies on how to approach work. As part of the Member and Community Relations team at HON, we always encourage new members to immerse themselves in our culture and network as much as possible. Several recommendations we would make to all hires, including Millennials, are:
- Be open to feedback – Understand this is helpful for your growth and development. If you don’t feel you are getting feedback, ask for it. How you handle it and move forward can shape and define what future opportunities may exist for you.
- Work-life balance is important – Working hard is critical to moving up the corporate ladder, but finding the right balance between this hard work and personal time is crucial. Everyone needs time to recharge their batteries and, when overworked, people often make mistakes and may not put their best foot forward. One critical factor to remember is there are times you will need to balance to work, and there are other times when you will need to balance to life. This may not always be a 50/50 split. The key is to be flexible depending on the circumstance.
- Leadership aspirations – For individuals who aspire to be leaders in an organization, it is important to begin to acquire and apply leadership skills in your current role. Look for opportunities for training which will help you grow in this area. At HON we offer a variety of programs for individuals, such as Impact Without Authority and Leadership Foundations, which help our members develop these crucial skills. Many companies offer similar programs. If you don’t know what exists, ask! Growth opportunities can also come from less formal avenues. Examples of these could include leading group projects or team meetings. Don’t just assume opportunities to lead will be handed to you – seek them out!
- Network, network, network – Get out of your comfort zone and get to know others in your organization. Learn what they do and how it impacts your role and your team. Take notes and be engaged. Someone you networked with today could be your key contact on your next hot item. Knowing who to call and already having a relationship will make your job easier and will help make you more successful in the long run.
- Experience counts –If you are going to move into a leadership role in an organization, experience is critical. Having a good understanding of the business and the department will help set you up to be successful. It will provide you with the foundation to draw from and give you credibility when working with others. Just remember, becoming a leader doesn’t happen overnight.
Having a successful career and landing a leadership role within an organization takes hard work, discipline, and a willingness to succeed. Being flexible, listening to what leaders in your company say, and understanding how to apply it to your current role are just a few ways to help you get there. “
What’s “News” was created to communicate the latest news and trends that HON, as a company sees, along with how they are applying them to better serve customers.
To learn more about about The HON Company, visit hon.com.
About The HON Company
Inspired by practicality and invested in understanding the needs of its customers, The HON Company strives to establish meaningful connections resulting in product solutions and customer support that exceed market demands. As a leading designer and manufacturer of workplace furniture including seating, desks, workstations, storage and tables, HON’s commitment to serving its customers is rooted in reliable performance and a member culture that is approachable, confident, smart, and ready to serve. Headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, The HON Company has numerous manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the United States, and markets its products through a nationwide network of loyal distribution partners. The HON Company is the largest operating company of HNI Corporation, a leading global office furniture manufacturer (NYSE: HNI). For more information, visit hon.com.