Social Office 2.0 | Godrej Interio
- 9to5 Spaces
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
Godrej Interio is happy to release Paper : Social Office Reimagined : Reality of Hybrid Workspaces.
The paper examines changes to workspace in post covid19 world and identifies 5 distinct typologies which are prevalent in Hybrid Workspaces.
The research has resulted in Godrej Interio launching several new products catering to these newer spaces.
The research report is result of tremendous efforts put in by Godrej Interio.
Our new knowledge center at Plant05 Vikhroli depicts the new kind of spaces which are covered in this report.
The 2019 pandemic sparked a slew of changes, demanding adjustments to daily
routines and habits. Among the many aspects impacted was the concept of
workplaces – a cornerstone of our professional lives. While employees across the
world collectively worked from office before the pandemic, during the pandemic,
they largely worked from home. Offices, traditionally viewed as the physical
embodiment of work, were redefined. Technology emerged as a catalyst, enabling
employees to work in a hybrid setup, oscillating between homes, offices, and beyond
- at flexible hours. According to a study by Godrej Interio’s Workspace and
Ergonomic Research Cell, today, 42.1% of the Indian workforce work exclusively from
the office, while 10.5% work entirely from home, and 47.4% shuttle between the two.
The work dynamics led to heated discussions about the intersection of two capital expenditures – human capital and real estate. Globally, the news of companies mandating a certain amount of time working from the office led to employee dissent. These events led us to ask an important question: Do organisations and employees even need offices to innovate and excel? Do professionals need spaces where they can work alone when they need to, or with teammates at other times, and socialise too? Do employees need to work out of offices, or do dining tables at home support all work needs?
To address this question, Godrej Interio’s Workspace and Ergonomic Research Cell surveyed 350 employees across India. Our study was conducted in over 50 offices across industries to understand user work patterns, their needs, and their expectations while working from the office. On being asked if they prefer working from office, users responded with a resounding YES.
Our study revealed that the office is no longer formal, social collaboration spaces are the essence. Further, prefer working from the office to collaborate with their colleagues. Similarly, all employees prefer the office for activities including focused work, brainstorming with colleagues, socialising and formal presentations – irrespective of their location and tenure at the company.
The insights from the study indicate that today, keeping the needs of employees in mind, it is imperative for organisations to have a well-planned office space in order to thrive. Serving as a crucial anchor, these offices offer a centralised space to support diverse employee needs and foster a sense of innovation and purpose.
In the late seventies, MIT Professor Thomas J. Allen studied the impact of distance on technical communication between engineers. His findings resulted in the Allen Curve. The curve estimates that we are four times more likely to communicate with someone two metres away than with someone twenty metres away. This emphasises the importance of physical proximity in promoting collaboration. Subsequent studies by Professor Allen extended these findings to virtual communication. “The more often we see someone face-to-face, the more likely it is that we will also telephone that person or communicate by another medium.”1 This research supports the rationale for organising teams in close physical proximity. However, simply seating employees side by side is inadequate for successful collaboration. Organisations should cultivate social capital2, and facilitate opportunities for employee collaboration and innovation. In today's dynamic work environment, employees increasingly seek spaces that are social; they desire choice and freedom. Control over their work location, schedule, and methodology holds considerable value.3 However, the question remains: Have office spaces kept pace with these evolving needs?
This begs the question – Have the offices kept up with the modern work requirements? How have organisations repurposed the spaces that were largely unused? Is there a plug point wherever required? During our research, we found a distinct trend – Offices that underwent upgrades tended to prioritise specific factors:
Interestingly, these offices predominantly followed a hybrid work model. Workplaces adhering solely to work from office arrangements had made minimal changes. In both scenarios, the reluctance among employees to return to the office setting could be attributed to the misalignment between workplace design and their cognitive needs.
The pandemic has served as a catalyst, accelerating latent trends that now demand attention:
Employees view the office as more than just a space to complete tasks. It must also now be a place where it’s easy to work in groups, learn, and pursue their overall well-being. The rapid adoption of technology and the need for flexibility across time and place have emerged as critical factors in reimagining workspaces.
The typologies of workspaces have remained largely stagnant, despite the significant shifts in how work is conducted and how employees interact with their colleagues and technology. This disparity indicates an urgent need for offices to adapt and cater to changing dynamics and expectations. Whether employees work remotely, on-site, or in a hybrid arrangement, the interactions between these modes have increased, necessitating a more responsive and adaptable workspace design.
Why have we not witnessed the widespread implementation of essential changes? The answer lies in a combination of factors, including the fog of an uncertain future, and the task of redefining long-held work conventions. In this high-stakes environment, it is imperative to adapt infrastructure and norms. Let us explore 2 scenarios to determine if all users interact with the office space in the same way.
Individual Environment: Employees interact with workspaces differently. Some find cafes ideal for focused work, while others prefer conventional, quieter settings. Although physical infrastructure expectations are standard, catering to cognitive preferences is essential. Universally, working on a low-height coffee table can lead to discomfort. A 750mm high table ensures better posture and optimal comfort. Additionally, ample charging points for electronic devices are crucial. Group Environment: Employees might start their day with solitary, focused work, later collaborating with teammates. Outcomes are deliberated upon, leading to execution, interspersed with rejuvenation breaks and, potentially, celebrating success. These cycles recur across various time frames and multiple individuals working across functions and hierarchies, virtually or physically.
Can a single space realistically support this kaleidoscope of demands? Given the diverse needs of organisations and their employees, it is imperative to approach workspace design with conscious intention. A one-size-fits-all approach will not suffice. For instance, the ideal workspace for a newly founded company specialising in handlooms will differ significantly from a well established R&D-focused organisation. The former may require more collaborative spaces to foster the exchange of ideas. The latter might prioritise specialised focus areas and individual workstations, particularly when dealing with sensitive information. Understanding the optimal mix of spaces tailored to each organisation's unique requirements and employee preferences is crucial for cultivating a thriving environment and culture. This necessitates designing workspaces that align with the cognitive needs of users, allowing them to immerse, interact and unwind4. There is now an expectation for spaces to serve multiple purposes, seamlessly transitioning from areas that foster interaction and collaboration to smaller, more focused huddle spaces. This adaptability will ensure that the same environment caters to a variety of needs, ultimately enhancing both individual and organisational success.
Among the diverse expectations of employees, a set of commonalities has emerged. 89.5% of users want their office spaces to exude the warmth and comfort of their homes. An ideal setting might be long tables with warm wooden finishes in a natural garden-like setting and direct sunlight. Readily accessible charging outlets would convert these spaces into immersive work areas that are also, in a way, relaxing retreats. To create a versatile environment for face-to-face and online interactions, several practical aspects must be considered. For virtual meetings, ensuring adequate lighting and acoustics even outdoors via biophilic elements like plants, water features and wooden partitions is hygiene. Workspaces should also promote employee health by incorporating eco-friendly materials to enhance indoor air quality and adding height adjustable desks and active seating furniture that encourage movement throughout the workday. Understanding The Evolving Typologies of Spaces: As workspace needs continue to evolve, new types of spaces are emerging. Godrej Interio's study underlined the need for multiple types of interactive spaces to support modern work across industries – to support a quick chat and for a client presentation. The proportion of each typology whether immersive, interactive or unwind spaces will depend on the organisation's unique characteristics, such as its industry and culture. A. Immersive Spaces A significant 73.7% of respondents reported that noise-related distractions hinder their ability to focus. Distractions happen in various forms, a co-worker with a query, an email from a client, a Slack message, or even a notification from a grocery app. To create an ideal Immersive Space, privacy and acoustics must be prioritised. This will foster an environment favourable for concentration, contemplation, and creativity.
Private Sanctum can be designed as areas with partitions, similar to private lounges, which ensure minimal distractions and optimum focus for head-down work. Despite the prevalence of open office layouts, workstations remain integral to an efficient office space. To enhance focus and reduce interruptions, it is ideal to install 1.5 ft high privacy screens in front of employees to create a physical barrier. These screens, if removable, offer a flexible workspace, allowing employees to customize their surroundings. Additionally, employees can also strike a balance between privacy and collaborative work.
Inspired by Ancient Greece, the Agora represents a central gathering space where colleagues can have quick chats, brainstorm, or work on projects together. Located near main work areas, these spaces cater to smaller teams for focused work, impromptu meetings, or collaboration. Agora spaces should be visually and acoustically separated from core work areas using plants and low height partitions to minimise the impact of noise on the Private Sanctums around. They can take the form of standing-height worktops or huddle seating, offering flexible options for users.
With these spaces, organisations can enhance the impact of traditional meeting rooms. This design approach nurtures a strong organisational culture that values relationship-building and collective growth.
B. Interactive Spaces Today's work environment demands more collaboration, with meeting rooms playing a significant role. These spaces have the greatest potential to impact organisations and their users. To optimize meeting efficiency, these interactive spaces should be separate from areas designated for quick discussions. Organisations increasingly seek multipurpose spaces that efficiently cater to various use cases without sacrificing user experience. Ensuring user comfort and providing essential technology, such as whiteboards, audio, and video equipment, is vital for successful hybrid meetings. Flexible plug-and-play furniture is key in adjusting the layout for different purposes—from a briefing room to a brainstorming space or a client presentation area.
Inspired by consultancies and intrapreneurial projects, these spaces bring together individuals from multiple departments to work on a specific project. Project Playgrounds accommodate various project stages, from brainstorming in smaller huddle spaces to execution and operational planning.
Ideation: Executives can brainstorm project goals, which are then followed by team briefings and discussions about milestones and schedules. Implementation: Smaller groups can discuss and execute the action plan, allowing for collaboration, efficient problem-solving, and regular check-ins. Keynote: The team can present their work, seeking buy-in and approval through presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions with clients or stakeholders, ensuring satisfaction with the project outcome and paving the way for future collaborations.
The Polaris functions as the formal guiding space for larger gatherings, discussions, and one-to-many interactions, much like a boardroom. Named after the North Star, Polaris is a state-of-the-art conference room and it can also serve as a training room.
Agile layout: Enables quick transistions between U or V-shapes for boardrooms and horseshoe layouts for training rooms. Clear lines of sight: Ensures all attendees are seen and heard, fostering active participation. Dimmable lighting: Adjustable lighting levels to focus on presentations or create a uniform and natural white lighting for both in-person discussions and virtual meetings. Enhanced acoustics: Improved audio quality that eliminates echoes for better communication. Whiteboards and collaboration tools: Enhances communication, brainstorming, and visualization capabilities.
Social Courtyards A significant 84.2% of respondents said they prefer socializing with coworkers in the workplace. Traditionally, Indian houses had a central courtyard – an aangan, which fostered a strong sense of community. Similarly, in an office space, Social Courtyards are spaces that promote rejuvenation, build relationships, and a sense of belonging. Approximately 50% of respondents acknowledged the value of meeting rooms for networking, relationship development, and connection with organisational culture. To amplify these benefits, organisations can create versatile spaces that accommodate various activities, such as town halls, brainstorming sessions, or casual tea breaks. To meet modern work needs, Social Courtyards should offer charging points and ergonomic furniture.
In this era, embracing the rhythm of change and the evolving times is key to facilitating the growth of people. As the Indian workforce strives to meet the demands of various industries in dynamic environments, employers can enable them with resources that allow them to be their productive best, while ensuring their overall wellbeing. They value flexibility, personalisation, and a sense of community that extends beyond the traditional borders of a workspace. Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all offices. Today's employees experience work in different ways—in person, virtually, and in between, at 6 a.m. IST and GMT. Creating an office space with a welcoming atmosphere, catering to diverse working styles, while also embracing cutting-edge technology is critical to fostering a productive and workforce. Even though this change will require significant investment and time, starting with smaller pilot projects and gathering continuous feedback will help create spaces that aid workers. What will also work in the favour of both employers and employees is striking a balance between Immersive Spaces, Interactive Spaces, and Social Courtyards. This approach can prevent employees from feeling overwhelmed while at work. In conclusion, employee expectations from their workspace have been undeniably reshaped. Organisations must stay fluid and adaptable to meet the ever-evolving nature of work and user needs, their workspaces should evolve with it. This, in turn, will lead to an increase in productivity, creativity, and innovation, resulting in higher employee satisfaction and organisational success.
About Godrej Interio :
Godrej Interio (GI) is India’s premium furniture brand in both home and institutional segments with a strong commitment to sustainability and centers of excellence in design, manufacturing and retail. Led by the largest in-house design team in the country in the furniture category and awarded with 42 India Design Mark Awards till date, GI aims to transform spaces with its thoughtfully designed furniture to create brighter homes and offices with products that have the highest design quotient in aesthetics, functionality and technology. With consistent pursuit ofexcellence and a special focus on health and ergonomics, GI’s product portfolio comprises a massive range. Today, we design and manufacture furniture for office spaces, homes, educational institutes,healthcare facilities, laboratories and more. Along with furniture we offer Audio Visual and 360 Degree Turnkey solutions. Each of our product range revolves around comfort and aesthetics while delivering well-designed, fun and functional furniture solutions. Briefly, Godrej Interio transforms dream spaces to life! Currently present in over 650 cities with 250 exclusive showrooms and 800 dealers, GI is one of the largest divisions of Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., part of the Godrej Group, one of India's largest engineering and customer product groups.
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