Effective workplace strategy optimizes office space

MANILA, Philippines - From typical ‘box’ cubicles to integrated stations, workplaces continue to evolve along with the rapid changes in time, culture, and trends. As such, companies are increasingly looking towards innovations in transforming workstations and improving overall workplace environment, in order to boost employee productivity.

According to real estate advisory and consultancy CBRE Philippines, the local office sector continues to be bullish, with upcoming office supply this 2014 expected at 190,000 square meters. This should ease vacancy rates from 1.98 percent to 2.12 percent. As companies jostle in the market, they should also start considering the right workplace strategy so as to be able to fully utilize and effectively maximize office space.

According to a CBRE Asia Pacific Special Report, “Workplace Strategy, Why One Size Does Not Fit All,” the trend will be less about real estate and the physical workplace and more about collaboration between members of the organization. It will be viewed as a strategy to change behavior, shift culture, and drive better business performance.

Determining the specific strategy is dependent on the company’s business and its short, medium, and long-term requirements. “Workplace strategy is a requisite to maximizing the potential of individuals and teams in an office. The environment employees work in should be aligned with the company’s culture and nature of business. At the same time, an effective workplace strategy should eliminate unnecessary costs,” Rick Santos, chairman, CEO and founder of CBRE Philippines, said.

Creating and implementing an appropriate workplace strategy that addresses organizational goals will make it easier for the employees to optimize their time and perform their functions well. Traditional settings with bosses and other individuals enclosed in offices may not work for a company that is highly interactive. In the same manner, open spaces may provide more distractions for employees working in a conventional environment.

In the Philippines, key to affecting the importance of a mobile workplace strategy is the young demographic profile, which is a factor considered by business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and other multinationals. Employees in these organizations are generally young as compared to their North American and European counterparts.

CBRE Research states that young workers are typically open with regard to workplace design and environment, making them more receptive to workplace strategies.

According to the study, companies are increasingly realizing the benefits of having a workplace that encourages mobility. This reflects the findings of a 2012 study done by real estate consortium Sustainability Roundtable, stating that worker mobility is increasing fastest in Asia Pacific, a region that comprises 62 percent of the global workforce.

Apart from empowering employees, mobility encourages individuals to interact, thereby improving work interfaces and social relationships within the organization. “Every day, employees encounter situations that require different work settings. An office space that takes into account employee needs allows individuals and teams ample flexibility in performing their work more efficiently,” added Santos.