The Role of Furniture in the New Era of Work

OSCA, Facilities Management

The world is recovering and has  loosened its pandemic restrictions, the economy gradually progresses with the opening of businesses. An economic growth of 6.3% is seen to take place in 2023 as supported by Asian Development Outlook.

Today, companies seek the possibility of bringing the workforce back to work at the office, while precautions are still being taken. With the new hybrid work setup model nowadays, employees report and work in the office 75% of the time and 25% remotely as explained in a Forbes article. Moreover, according to Corporate Wellness Magazine, redesigning the workplace to suit the post pandemic era is also a prime concern.

Workplace In The New Era

Adjusting to the new normal has brought tremendous changes not only on how people do their work but also where they do it. This new era requires extra comfort and safety in the workplace, making office ergonomics the new standard.

Office ergonomics is making sure that office workers have the right furniture, equipment, and working conditions to be able to do their jobs efficiently and comfortably. Workplace comfortability is highly associated with employees’ productivity as seen in a study conducted in Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.

What are the office ergonomics must-haves?

Comfortable chairs – Chairs must allow its user to sit comfortably throughout the day without hurting the spine. A comfortable chair should have an adjustable height and armrest – this is to ensure that the user can plant their feet on the ground and have their arms resting gently so the shoulders are relaxed.

Monitors with adjustable height – To protect the user’s eyes from strain and fatigue, the monitor or laptop screen should be adjustable depending on the height of the user. It must be clearly visible without them straining or bending their neck. 

Good lighting – Good lighting is great for the workplace as it can improve employees’ health and well-being while reducing eye strain. Access to sunlight and outside views give the eyes a chance to relax and recuperate from the excessive staring at a monitor all day. If there are not enough windows, a couple of overhead lighting will suffice.

Wide corridors –  As a counter measure against COVID-19, wider corridors are highly suggested in order to maintain enough physical distance in the workplace. Physical distancing is proven to help reduce the spread of the virus as found in the study of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Good ventilation – In addition to wide corridors, having good ventilation is another counter measure against COVID-19. Windows, air purifiers, and filters are good examples on how you can achieve good  ventilation.

Companies with an ergonomically designed workplace affirm that their employees show they are more focused, inspired, and have higher energy levels, resulting in an increased level of productivity.

With this, find the right project management team that can help the company adapt to the new era of work. Santos Knight Frank is a renowned real estate services agency that has a great track record of serving clients with services such as occupier services & commercial agency, investment & capital marketsresidential & sales leasing, property marketing, research & consultancy, valuation & appraisal, project management, asset management,  property management, facilities management, technical services & engineering solutions. Visit our website and speak to our real estate practitioners at https://santosknightfrank.com/

Learn more about the advantages of hiring a project management team when it comes to revamping the workplace by reading How Project Management Professionals Help Build a Better Office

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About Santos Knight Frank

The world of real estate can be a difficult place to navigate. Whether property is your investment or a tool that drives your business success, you need a partner who can guide you in every step of the way.

Since 1994, Santos Knight Frank has been guiding Fortune 1000 companies, BPOs, private clients, and institutions in all facets of real estate. We advise companies on their best office, retail, and industrial location, oversee commercial fit-out projects, and manage facilities. We have facilitated over 4 million sqm of office transactions on behalf of clients and managed over 40 million sqm of real estate under our property & facilities management arm.

Our residential brokerage platform and wide collection of bespoke homes allow our private clients to buy, lease, and sell properties within their budget, timeline, and lifestyle.

For landlords and investors, we provide valuations and appraisal, consultancy and research, sales and leasing, and property management services across the Philippines.

Santos Knight Frank is part of the global Knight Frank network of over 384 offices in 51 markets, including the strategically important U.S. partnerships with Cresa (commercial real estate) and Douglas Elliman (residential real estate).

We are locally expert and globally connected, end-to-end and best-in-class – as any great partner in property should be.