Here’s What Your Future Workspace Could Look Like

The future of work can seem uncertain. With all the debate about AI taking our jobs (or liberating us from our jobs, depending on how optimistic you are) and countries like Finland trialing Universal Basic Income, it feels like there’s everything to play for — and everything to lose. But despite the vast and unpredictable changes which could be lurking further down the line, there are some positive trends and transformations taking place in workspaces across the country. Companies like Google, who take an evidence-based approach to workplace policies rather than a traditional one, are leading from the top down — and while it may take some time to see the effects in your own workplace, mark our words — these changes are coming. From coworking spaces to unlimited holiday and flexible working hours, these are the biggest cultural shifts that should be teleporting your workspace into the future soon.

From Competitive to Collaborative — Coworking Spaces and Beyond

The dog-eat-dog environment of traditional offices is on the out, and collaboration is on the way in, as employers finally start to recognise that you get more out of your employees by encouraging them to work together than by putting them head-to-head. And with technology helping employees to stay more connected than ever, creative office spaces are on the rise too. Open offices, designed to encourage the free-flow of creativity and ideas, have already supplanted the closed cubicles of days gone by, but as technology increases an employee’s ability to work from anywhere, coworking spaces are rapidly gaining in popularity. By exposing employees and freelancers to a mix of inspired, creative workers from different backgrounds, coworking spaces aim to create a sense of independence — enhancing their commitment, sense of responsibility and job satisfaction.

Flexible Workspace Policies

As we touched on above, there’s simply no need for employees to be sat at a desk in a physical office day-in, day-out any more — and as any employer who’s ever endured the headache and expense of looking for office space for rent knows, there are benefits to having remote staff. Not only does it show you trust and respect your employee, allowing employees to work remotely cuts business overheads and increases employee engagement. It also reduces time drains like commutes, which could explain why remote workers actually log more hours than their fixed workplace colleagues. Other schemes which encourage employee responsibility and freedom such as unlimited holiday policies and flexible working hours are on the rise. These policies seem to be a nod to the fact that millennials will make up half of the workforce in just three years’ time — and this generation simply doesn’t respond to the rigidity and lack of autonomy which has traditionally been the motivating force of the workplace.

It seems that employers are finally beginning to respond to the changing needs of their employees, recognising that a self-regulating workforce which feels in control of its own fate is more likely to garner results. Whether these changes are coming about because of start-up culture or because of the millennial hunt for meaning at work, they are something we can all hope to benefit from very soon, if you aren’t lucky enough to be experiencing them already. Let’s just hope we have time to enjoy them before the robots take our jobs.

Coworkies Magazine

The Coworking magazine by Coworkies. We highlights portraits of extraordinary people who entered the coworking world as owners, managers or members.

Justina Cruickshank

Written by

Coworkies Magazine

The Coworking magazine by Coworkies. We highlights portraits of extraordinary people who entered the coworking world as owners, managers or members.

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