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What could your office do to improve your working day?

167 replies

Biancadelriosback · 13/11/2018 17:21

I've recently been given an office building to run. I have some relevant experience however it's always been as part of a brand with brand standards. Now I actually have freedom to do things. So I'm looking for some inspiration.
The building will be occupied by different companies and will be premium. So I'm looking at things like free networking events, high-end tea and coffee facilities, free fresh fruit etc so yeah! Just after some ideas :)

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 14/11/2018 06:41

Get rid of the crap and the mess. Nothing gets thrown out in my workplace. There are empty boxes for kettles that no longer work in the kitchen. The broken kettles are still in a cupboard and I found a 10 year old calendar the other day. I threw that out.

toomuchfaster · 14/11/2018 06:41

Please consider those that don't drink coffee or tea. Does your bean-to-cup machine stink? Is the only alternative plain water? Or are there herbal teas?

And NO dogs!

Madeline88 · 14/11/2018 06:52

Secure bike shed great. Break out areas determined by tenants and how they allocate their space. Comms team has subscription to papers/mags so don’t reckon the building manager needs to supply those. Likewise free fruit etc has always been organised by the company, not the building.

StephenQueenBooks · 14/11/2018 06:52

Computers that aren't made in 2007.
Assigned desks. It's a nightmare coming into it find a desk and try and get bear someone you know, it's like a free for all when we get in!

Madeline88 · 14/11/2018 06:52

Tea and coffee also supplied by company rather then building manager.

Madeline88 · 14/11/2018 06:55

Is this more of a co-working space then a lease by floor by tenant situation?

AtLeastThreeDrinks · 14/11/2018 08:03

One place I worked had white noise in the bathrooms to mask any unpleasant sounds!

Yes to lots of air-purifying plants. A nap room would be amazing; 20 mins after lunch would be such a boost for the afternoon.

Petitprince · 14/11/2018 08:23

Yes to dogs. Also a creche.

Wolfray · 14/11/2018 08:51

Yes to dogs.

Windows that actually open are wanted.

Yes to fresh fruit and good drink options.

We used to have lunch time yoga sessions, which was great until our instructor moved to Australia.

MissWimpyDimple · 14/11/2018 09:02

No dogs! No no no!

Sitranced · 14/11/2018 09:16

Re: the standing desks you can get adjustable ones which can be moved up and down. Loads of studies shown it increases blood flow and productivity and helps alleviate aching backs.

BarbaraofSevillle · 14/11/2018 09:26

A dishwasher. Crockery Jenga is a feature of our office with 30 staff, as everyone thinks that there's washing up fairies to hand wash the cups

Someone to clear up at the end of the day - make it part of the evening cleaner's job?

If you've one sink for everyone to wash up, there just isn't room for everyone to get in and wash their stuff up, which is probably the main reason why things get left.

Everyone washing stuff up one by one by hand will also use far more water than using a dishwasher, so why not have someone responsible for putting the dishwasher on at the end of the day?

Also decent heating/air con. Our crappy office heating system with no temperature control means that it has to be fully on, or off, so have a choice of the office being freezing cold or boiling hot.

YY to printers that work and maybe on site IT help to solve problems quickly. Ours know exactly when you just have to print something quickly or urgently and choose that time to not co-operate - that probably relates to both the printers and the IT help people.

ChikiTIKI · 14/11/2018 09:36

I worked somewhere that had a room where pregnant people (and probably people with medical issues) could access a room where you can go and lie down. I never went in there though as wasn't pregnant.

Also they had a machine that dispensed fizzy water. It was great. I would put a soluble vitamin c tablet in and it was like having a lucozade without the sugar!

Somewhere else I worked had a machine for free coffee, tea, hot chocolate. But they did not taste nice.

ChikiTIKI · 14/11/2018 09:36

It would be really nice to have some nice moisturiser as well as nice hand soap!

Satsumaeater · 14/11/2018 10:20

No plants and no pets. If my office had dogs I would work 100% from home, or leave if they wouldn't let me.

No radio or music, let people play their own via headphones.

A shower is a really good idea if you've space for one.

A decent coffee machine.

Decent chairs that don't give you backache.

Satsumaeater · 14/11/2018 10:20

No creche either. Who wants to take small children on a busy commuter train?

VanGoghsDog · 14/11/2018 10:55

Lots of people don't use 'commuter trains' to get to work! But a crèche is costly, so worth doing a survey to see if people need it, and they would have to pay for it (our group HQ has one but I don't work there, not that I have kids anyway).

Looking round my office where we all 'hot desk', the thing I would like is a footrest! I cross my legs too much and prefer a footrest to help remind me not to do it, but as we hotdesk I can't have one.
I think hot desking is a H&S nightmare, not to mention a social nightmare as you never see the same person two days in a row so never get to build any work relationships. I have sat in one of our sites and no-one has spoken to me literally all day.

Lockers are needed if hotdesking and docking stations so people don't need to carry power leads and can use big screens, proper keyboards etc. I also get a bit of RSI so I prefer an upright mouse (another thing I can't have in the hot desk environment!).

Plug sockets on TOP of desks so you can plug in laptops if you need to without crawling on the floor and every power socket to have a USB socket or two as well so people only need carry the lead, not the plug to charge their phones.

We have a concierge service, it seems to be available to book tickets for things, so could look into that (I've not used it).

If you have 'break out areas', look to have white board walls (and in meeting rooms). Also, set those noise dampeners in the ceiling so the sound doesn't carry all through the offices.

We have a kitchenette in each area with a pay machine for tea/coffee, a hot and cold water tap, fridge and m/w. We have a restaurant and café downstairs and an ATM which is useful.
The loos also have a drinking water tap as well as hand washing.

One place I worked they had soap, sanitising hand wash and hand cream in dispensers in the loo - in flu season the sanitiser was good. We also had some in the kitchen in my last place.

imamearcat · 14/11/2018 12:01

Air con / heating that works properly.

Mumof1andacat · 14/11/2018 12:32

Somewhere to hang your coat, decent blinds, enough desks and chairs (when everyone is in in my office there is not enough space for everyone) I know hot desking is a thing but I'm short and people continuously move my seat.

Biancadelriosback · 14/11/2018 12:56

We have facilities for both offices and co-working so trying to keep everyone happy :)
Our tea range does include herbal teas but I wasn't going to provide squash or anything like that. The bean to cup machine also offered hot chocolate. It will smell but it's in the kitchen which is separate from the offices.

Why are people saying no to plants? I thought they were sought after?

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 14/11/2018 13:04

Simple, uncluttered space with natural light (flourescent lights give me a headache, good ventilation and no draughts. Enough space so that you can hear yourself think, especially when on the phone. And absolutely no hot desking.

Cold, nice tasting water and access to a kettle. We also have a fridge and microwave but no-one ever seems to clean it whch is my personal bugbear. Somewhere comfortable to eat where food won't stink the place out.m

Soeone once decided to bring in incence sticks and it was awful. And definatley no animals or flowers.

RockNRollNerd · 14/11/2018 13:14

The charging for meeting rooms in advance would bother me. Better to ban recurring bookings of rooms but not penalise people who know and arrange things in advance and play by the rules.

If people have to have confidential discussions then enough small booths or pods for that is essential. It will also solve the meeting room issue to an extent as well.

RockNRollNerd · 14/11/2018 13:17

Slick IT is also essential. No one wants to waste 10 mins of a 60 minute meeting faffing trying to get the VC to connect or show their slides on screen. The right adaptors and connectors and clear instructions are a must have for meeting rooms and hot desks.

Also lock down the hardware, nothing worse than getting to a desk or a meeting room and a cable not being there.

Strong WiFi in the whole building as well. People want to take their laptop with them from meeting to meeting and be able to access their files. It also solves lack of mobile phone reception as you can use WiFi calls.

Herhonesty · 14/11/2018 13:30

have a look at wework
www.wework.com/why-wework
its a fairly standard formula which most corporates are copying

Violetroselily · 14/11/2018 13:32

@VanGoghsDog does your workplace not offer fixed desks for those who need adaptations? If you have a health problem that requires ergonomic equipment you should have this accessible to you at all times. Can you request a workplace assessment? The assessor may be able to recommend a fixed desk.

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