Wait, Workplace Flexibility is not yet a reality!

Even though the Pandemic opened the door for Flexibility it is still a process in development. We are now arriving at the stage where we must plan the new working patterns to create real flexible environments.

A large proportion of employees were forced to work from home due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and that has been the ‘new normal’ for most of the last year. At the beginning of the pandemic, employees were confused and unsettled about the situation. Today, following a year of challenging experiences one conclusion is clear: WFH is not for everyone. However, another thing has become even clearer; that employees appreciate having control over time, space, and decisions regarding their work habits. 

This conclusion leads us to realise that Flexibility is far and beyond WFH. Flexibility requires a more complex, consensus-based plan:

1. Evaluating what structures/processes are best for the individual, the teams, and the organisation in relation to motivation, performance, and strategy. 

2. A New deliverable-focused mindset is imperative! A flexible culture starts by understanding that people work best in different ways. An open-minded leadership style is fundamental to establishing a goal centric management strategy that extends beyond the employee physical location, or employee working hours.  

3. As we try to plan new ways of working, taking extreme decisions regarding the workforce operation is currently not a wise choice. For example, companies that already decided to close their offices could regret this decision as many people are missing face-to-face interaction with colleagues. Therefore, hybrid environments, where employees have the option to WFH some days as well as go to the office, may be a more balanced option to bear in mind. 

4. Taking accountability for the changes: If the corporate decision is to allow employees to WFH, Companies should guarantee they provide the basic important physical elements (desk, ergonomic chair, laptop, etc), as well as the physiological support to ensure a safe work environment regardless of its location. Preparing new collaborative spaces at the office is equally important. Employees will return with different expectations, concerns, and preferences. Consequently, the physical spaces should reflect and adapt to these new needs and aspirations. 

5. Communication has been and will continue to be an important key element to ensure the involvement and participation of employees in the new changes. 

 #FlexFrom1

Does your office inspire people to come back after the pandemic?

When people interact with a business (either as employees or customers) they don’t just want to make a trade-off...People like to support companies that stand for a bigger purpose. 

When you look at a workspace, often you immediately feel whether you are in “the right place”. Spaces that showcase a bigger purpose make us feel inspired and excite us. Whereas the opposite might make us feel like we don’t belong here and even decrease our trust in the company. With the well-being of the employees at the centre of the discussion, related to the increase of mental health issues caused by isolation, now more than ever companies need to reassure employees a safe space to go back to

Functions of the workplace

The best workplaces adapt to the people using them and embody what these people stand for. These spaces really help people to become the best versions of themselves and connect with each other. This obviously leads to more collaboration, improved productivity and decreased absenteeism but it also inspires and attracts new colleagues, partners and customers.

Consider these ideas for a more inspiring workspace design:

1. Purpose: it is the motivation that drives employees to show up at work because they love to, not because they have to. 

(Image by Eddie Lee/HypeBeast)

1. Connection: employees feel they can have a voice within a trusting and creative atmosphere. They socialise and collaborate to achieve common goals but also to care for each other. 

(Image by Penketh Group)

1. Sustainability: embracing compassion and empathy on employees. This includes increasing positive impacts on environmental, economic and social aspects for better societies and also giving employees chances to contribute as well (for example recycling).

(Image by property.nl)

1. Sense of belonging: employees feel they belong to where they are. They are connected with the workplace culture and thrive. 

(Image by unsplash)

1. Mobility & health: safety and healthy environment surround employees. They feel the organisation cares about their quality of life. 

(image by hrinasia.com)

Did these 5 variables actually sound familiar to you? 

If yes, we are connected!

They are actually the 5 variables we use to measure wellbeing at workplaces. Get in touch if you would like us to collaborate with you!

The impact of a disconnected workplace

Over a period of years, workspaces have developed in a variety of ways. From cubicle to open floor, and from outsourced mass production canteen to inhouse barista’s. We have seen trends coming and going. However, throughout the years there also has been a constant factor: the impact of office space on the well-being of the people.

So, you might ask yourself “why should I care?” 

Let me explain... 

It has been proven over and over that good interior architecture leads to increased productivity, efficiency and collaboration and decreases absenteeism and friction. 

The importance of office design for employee well-being is supported by the international “WELL Building Standard (WELL)”, administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBITM). The standard takes into account seven factors: quality of air, availability of drinking water, food, light, fitness, comfort and mind. 

However…  

Although these standards definitely improve employee well-being it still is a “one-fits-all” approach. A small example: opening more windows (in most cases) leads to fresher air but it can also lead to more noise. For some people, background noise is preferred but for some people, it might not be the case. Therefore, we like to take workplace design one step further and really include the preferences of every individual into account. Like we did at Proactive Marketing* for example.

Currently, due to the appearance of hybrid workspaces, it is relevant to further embrace the control, privacy and flexibility gained by individuals working remotely, and how it is shaping new ways of working.

People are at the core of any business, therefore it is greatly important to take the function of the workplace design (office and/or home) into consideration. Modern workspaces should adapt to facilitate the preferences of the people, not the other way around. 

WAW’s business model is shaped around the vision that workspaces should serve the people. Learn more about WAW here.

Home workspace design and its influence on our headspace...

During these unprecedented times, we are facing a really difficult stage where mental health issues are dramatically increasing. According to the ‘Office for National Statistics’, the rate of depression has doubled in adults after the lockdown. 

Many variables contribute to raising the statistics on emotional and psychological problems including isolation, financial concerns, loss of connection, uncertainty, etc. But there is also a silver lining: this struggle has inspired people to try to find ways to counteract the situation... Let us explain further…

We have discovered some interesting factors that trigger anxiety and stress connected to the lack of a dedicated workspace at home. People are experiencing first hand how the physical space conditions our emotions. For example, what our clients have called ‘The intrusiveness’ of work elements into their personal lives. 

What most of our clients did not realise, is the importance of spatial design. Or, even if they did, many tended to think that it requires a big investment and that is not worth prioritising over the many things they have in their ‘ to-do list’…   

We have identified some key recurring recommendations so far...

• Simple layout movements influence a better use of space, try moving furniture around.

• Re-configure the space prioritising Natural light. Use the windows!

• Spatial changes should be connected with the person’s work, needs and personality. Try to find what works for you.

• Even if WFH seems temporary, it is important to “compartmentalise” your home and give it that new use as a workspace while keeping all activities separate. You do this with visual barriers and plants are great for that.

• Healthier behaviours should complement the person’s interaction with the workspace. Move around, go for a call-meeting while walking in the park, keep a schedule...

We’ve seen how small changes can make a huge difference and since every person has different environments and needs, we developed a personalised method that helps us understand the individual’s unique circumstances. Therefore we are able to suggest to the small, but effective, changes that can help improve their experience of working from home. 

Book a call if you want us to guide you on how to set up the best workspace at home!

Sol Martinez and Claudia Canizares

A WAW success story

Testimonial by Cliff Lay, MD at Proactive Marketing

“To me as a leader, not only the end result but also the process have been of great value.”

In fall 2019 we had just moved to a different office here in Bournemouth. Although we did bring our furniture and stationery and everything over, somehow the place just always stayed unorganized and especially inefficient. 

As a company that strives to make life easier for our customers but also for our own people this quickly became a problem... So when we met Claudia and Sol and learned about WAW’s approach and solutions for space design that seemed like a great fit.

In the past, we have worked with other design agencies to get the most out of our space but WAW has given us a completely different approach and result. 

Where most agencies look at the available space, WAW starts with the individuals that are working in the space. Claudia and Sol took a lot of time to get to know the people from our team (1 on 1) by executing interviews and surveys to learn about people’s individual preferences such as “do you prefer a warmer or cooler area, completely silent or some soft background noise”. 

The insights this research has given about the people working at Proactive Marketing are very insightful for me as a leader. 

As a result, our workspace is much more efficient and looks better and also the individual team members feel really valued and appreciated which results in increased productivity, collaboration, happiness and reduced friction in our office.

Cliff Lay, MD at Proactive Marketing in Bournemouth, UK

Interested in what we can do for your office? Learn more about our plans here.

Origin of WAW

The initial idea for WAW came from Claudia in 2018. 

Claudia: “After graduating as a Master of Interior Architecture here in the NL, I went out to pursue my passion for making purposeful and humane design in the workplace. But soon came to realise that it just wasn’t really there. At least not in the way I had it in mind.  

I really wanted to design spaces beyond the aesthetic trends that could really help people with problems that I knew were happening such as burn out. I couldn’t find it, so I started thinking of doing it myself... 

I shared my thoughts with Sol, because she has been a close friend since we were 10 years old and she is specialized in wellbeing, ending in long brainstorming sessions on skype about design and well-being...as well as a little bit of gossip ;)

Sol: “I was doing the CIPD qualification, and as part of a HR research, Claudia and I found multiple sources from each of our fields; Human Resources and Furniture/Interior Design. We have a common ground of improving employee’s quality of life at work. However, our research showed that both fields were completely disconnected”.

We concluded that a holistic wellbeing approach was needed, acting as a bridge between HR and Design to make happier employees, so we decided to build it.  

And that is how we got started with a concept, a clear vision and goals, and of course the name ‘WAW’ which stands for Wellbeing at Work. Together we created a unique consultancy that measures wellbeing and offers interior design solutions based on our 5 variables model: Purpose, Connection, Sense of Belonging, Mobility & Health and Sustainability.

We believe that people are at the core of any business. We believe spaces should adapt to human beings, not the other way around. Therefore with WAW we humanise workspaces with the goal of helping employees to become the best version of themselves.  

Our model optimises workspaces and therefore brings lots of benefits not only to employees but also to the business. For example, increased productivity, improved employee motivation and collaboration, and decreased absenteeism levels.

To create a workspace tailored to your culture, people, needs and aspirations we follow 3 independent phases.  

1. Discovery: 

   We discover the organisation’s needs and aspirations by executing interviews and surveys, measuring spaces and taking photographs.

2. Design:

   We establish design requirements and solutions based on our clients spatial and well-being needs.

3. Do:

   Supervision of the Construction plan, furnishing acquisition, and supplier management.

We provide our clients with different plans that match specific circumstances (for example the refurbishing of a current workspace requires a different approach then an entire new workspace). To learn more about our plans here or read how Cliff Lay from Proactive Marketing Agency experienced collaborating with us here.

Meet Claudia, Co-founder at WAW

Hi! I am Claudia Canizares. 

In 2009 I graduated from the University of Bogota (UJTL) with the title “industrial designer”. During my studies I developed a passion for interior design and interior architecture. After graduating I decided I was more into interior design and I was lucky enough to find jobs in Interior Architecture Studios which allowed me to gain a lot of work experience in the field of space design. Some of the most important projects for my professional development were with Google* and Oracle in Colombia.

After working for 7 years in Colombia as an interior designer I felt I needed to go abroad and find other fields where design can contribute. Also, my official title still was “industrial designer” so I thought of making the role I was already performing my official title by applying for a masters degree in Interior Architecture.

English taught masters and design-recognised countries were part of my requirements and that’s how I ended up joining the Rotterdam University program of Interior architecture (MIARD). I graduated in 2018 which now allows me to officially wear the title of “Master of Interior Architecture”.

What I learned from my masters degree is that I really want to use architecture and design not just in aesthetic ways but also to have more purpose. It also helped me re-connect my work expertise with learning and researching as part of the design thinking process.

That is when I really started to think about wellbeing as a way to find purpose in design and architecture. So, initially I went out to search for jobs or companies where I could realise this vision where architecture and design contribute to the wellbeing of people but I just really couldn’t find it. 

That is when the first ideas for WAW were born... 

Meet Sol, Co-founder at WAW

Hi my name is Sol

During my professional career in Colombia, I have gained a ton of experience in the field of Human Resources, Sustainability, and Wellbeing. I am passionate about wellbeing and this did not only result in a career as a wellbeing specialist but also as a passion outside of work, I always try to advocate about the importance of taking care of one-self in a holistic way. 

I had the opportunity to develop different projects that created a social impact in the quality of life of more than 16,000 Colombian people.

In 2015, after working for almost 10 years, I needed to take my English language skills to the next level for professional reasons. Also, I wanted to have a personal experience abroad. So, I came to the UK to learn and get my “Advanced English” certification at Bournemouth & Poole College. 

By the time I graduated I was in a serious relationship with an English man, who is now my husband. It was very tough for both of us when I had to move back to Colombia. However, we stayed in contact travelling to see each other but obviously, still the distance and time difference made it really challenging. 

In the meantime, professionally I was making big steps very fast. My expertise and masters degree in Human Resources Management and Wellbeing allowed me to lead large projects in the field of workspace sustainability .

In 2018 a major turning point in my life occurred. My career was developing really fast and I reached a point where I had to make a big decision. My (back then) boyfriend and I had been traveling between Colombia and the UK for almost 2 years. To continue this relationship I had to make a difficult decision: leave Colombia to be in the UK and professionally start from the bottom again or… break up and focus on my career in Bogota. I decided to choose my relationship and Jamie and I got married in February the same year.

I left Colombia in October 2018 to join Jamie in the UK. Professionally this was not easy, because for a foreigner like me in a smaller city it is not easy to find a job on the level that I had in Colombia. But to help with the transition I completed the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualification level 5 to obtain the most up to date knowledge in Human Resources Management in the UK. 

And that is when Claudia introduced the initial concept of what would become WAW... read more about WAW origin story here.