by Linda Trim | Dec 14, 2019 | Employers
Between 15 to 20% of people are neurodivergent, which is a collection of conditions that include autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia.
Linda Trim, a director at workplace design specialist firm Giant Leap, said: “Heightened awareness of neurodiversity is leading to a range of more inclusive policies and procedures in the office space the world over.
“Organisations are increasingly making physical and cultural adaptations to create physical work environments that support the full range of employees from neurotypical to neurodivergent.
“Employers are beginning to recognise that in addition to simply being the right thing to do, accommodating neurodiverse people can provide a significant competitive advantage. Neurodivergent employees often tend to have exceptional capacity for creative problem solving and greater attention to detail,” she said.
Creating work spaces that accommodate everyone’s needs can seem overwhelming.
“We recommended several design interventions, from improving acoustics and lighting to introducing access to nature. But one simple, often neglected element employers might want to think about when considering the environment they provide to employees is the colour of the walls.”
Instead of using paint as a decorative or branding element, Trim suggested thinking about its emotional and psychological effects on neurodivergent staff. She cautioned against using bright colours and bold artwork in rooms meant for focused work.
“Loud colours can actually be oppressive for workers who tend to get overwhelmed easily,” she said.
A 2016 study in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that yellow is the most fatiguing and most sensory-loaded colour. Researchers said a yellow room can be punishing for people with autism spectrum disorder whose sensitivity to sensory stimulation is already enhanced.
Trim also noted the common corporate decorator instinct of painting surfaces to match a company’s brand colours.
“Colours that work on logos don’t necessarily work in environments. For example, painting walls electric orange, once a very popular branding colour, can make someone agitated or even hungry.”
Trim said that overstimulated environments are typical of tech headquarters in places such as Silicon Valley. “They want you to be there for long hours, but they’ve been proven to stress people out. If you’re absolutely compelled to use company colours in interiors, introduce it in small doses like as desk accessories or cushions.”
This doesn’t mean offices have to paint everything in white. As a general guideline, light greens and blues are the most welcoming colours for workers with sensory issues. Some neurodivergent workers actually need more stimulus.
“People who are neurodivergent often need areas where they can get their energy out; game rooms aren’t not just fun social spaces. They are absolutely critical for people who have excess energy. These are areas where companies can safely introduce brightly coloured walls,” concluded Trim.
Linda Trim is a director at workplace design specialist firm Giant Leap.
by Linda Trim | Nov 8, 2019 | Employers
A recent survey, titled What Millennials Want From the Workplace, has revealed that workplace design and flexible working are top priorities.
Linda Trim, a director at workplace design specialist company Giant Leap, said: “Even as Generation Z enters the workplace, designers concerned with the war for talent will continue to make efforts to accommodate the preferences of millennials because they are set to represent 75% of the workplace by 2025.”
The research was conducted by PWC, Colliers International, CBRE, Deka Immobilien GmbH and HLW International. It challenged some of the stereotypes about the working preferences of millennials, but also examined what really attracts and retains this generation.
Trim said: “The survey focused on two areas – workplace and employer – and covered topics such as design, flexible working, workspace, wellness, loyalty, work/life balance and culture.”
Key findings
• The single most important thing to millennials when it comes to the workplace is design, followed by the work itself, location and colleagues;
• 98% of millennials consider that culture is an important component of their workplace;
• 95% of millennials believe that flexible working is important to their workplace experience;
• 81% of millennials consider that workplace design has a moderate or high impact on day-to-day productivity, with 86% stating that well-designed common areas are important;
• 87% felt wellness was important, while 80% of millennials demand healthy food options in the workplace;
• 75% felt that they had a good work-life balance, with 72% considering that their employer supported this balance;
• Millennials are loyal, with 74% intending to stay with their current employer for three or more years, a finding that goes against the stereotype of this “job-hopping” generation;
• Talent retention is also a key factor, with 87% wanting employers to be more transparent about growth prospects.
“The results are really telling and a wake-up call. “The way people work and what is expected of an office is changing so quickly. “Businesses need to adapt to attract and retain the best talent and ensure their people are happy and productive,” Trim said.
Linda Trim is a director at workplace design specialist company Giant Leap.
by Linda Trim | Oct 17, 2019 | Jobs
ENTREPREUNERS, start-ups, freelancers, gig economy workers and large corporate companies used to call everything from coffee shops to kitchens right through to airports an office.
But today, they have a new option to add to the list: co-working spaces or pro-working spaces as shared work spaces have come to be called. “There is a lot businesses can learn from their global rise,” said Linda Trim, a director at workplace specialist firm Giant Leap.
Shared workspaces operate in a variety of ways. At a basic level, people can claim seats for a daily fee, rent out rooms at a monthly or annual cost or pay for a monthly membership to sit anywhere in the common areas. But pro-working spaces are more like a mixture between five-star hotels and luxury business lounges. They offer the best of everything you could want in an office from concierge services, personal assistants and the latest communications technology.
“Shared work spaces give the old-school office plenty to envy in terms of cross-pollination between workers, flexible location and community,” she said.
Department mix-and-match
In a pro-working space, electrical engineers sit next to marketers and entrepreneurs sit next to programmers. There could be dozens of different businesses in one shared office at any given time. To inspire similar levels of mingling, offices could start a game of musical chairs.
“Instead of the legal department in the legal room, mix them up with accounting for one day a week,” said Trim. “From that proximity, they can strategically interact and collaborate.” She added that: “People are happier in bright open spaces with good acoustics, proper lighting and air flow where they’re making social connections, not just a desk to work at.” People in co-working spaces rate their level of “thriving” – defined as their vitality, learning and work performance – an average of about six on a seven-point scale, according to a study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, far higher than in traditional offices.
Location independence
One of the major selling points of the co-working environment is the flexibility and location independence that users can enjoy. “To attract and retain a competitive workforce, those features can be adopted in traditional offices too,” said Trim. “In co-working offices that effectively balance focused, quiet space with collaborative space, workers say they feel innovative.” The depth of pro-working amenities can also draw people in. If you have special technology like state-of-the-art video conferencing or just a really good private space that’s reserveable, it makes the space hugely appealing. Good coffee and food is a must too.
Community management
Some pro-working spaces are beautifully designed and more like presidential suites than offices, making them places people want to hang out it in. While good design is important, one of the most crucial parts of a shared space isn’t as visible. “Community management is a major component of what makes these spaces come alive and valuable to users,” said Trim. “People make invaluable contacts, secure contracts and greater knowledge just from being in a co-working community. Select pro-working offices also hold frequent, free educational and learning events, which are greatly skill- and career-enhancing.”
Linda Trim is a director at workplace specialist firm Giant Leap.
by Linda Trim | Oct 11, 2019 | Jobs
EMPLOYEES lose one to two hours, sometime more, of productivity every day in work environments that don’t support daily health.
However, there are easy, cost-effective ways to help solve the problem. Linda Trim, a director at workplace design specialist firm Giant Leap, said: “Air quality, lighting and temperature are top factors for positive influence on wellness. “Other priorities include personal control of the workspace and more privacy from noise and people distractions. Given the importance of a healthy work environment to productivity and retention, all businesses should invest some time in making the most of their space. Seven out of 10 employees are likely to stay at a job that enhances wellness,” she said.
Five ways to promote a conducive workplace:
- Personalise your workspace
You may not always be able to renovate the office and install new furniture, but you can probably always make decorative and design improvements. “Hanging pictures, keeping fresh flowers or live plants at desks make a big difference,” said Trim. She also suggested improved, more people-friendly office layouts and positioning people so they have the most appealing views possible.
- Create privacy in open layouts
Having fewer offices with doors in lieu of more shared layouts saves money. But you can still maintain your privacy in an open workplace. She said: “Taking advantage of privacy rooms and hanging a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign when you need to focus or using common spaces away from your desk make a big difference to a sense of control. If you do have private spaces you can use, know where they are and how to reserve them.”
- Bring in support tools
It would be ideal if every office provided the air quality, lighting, temperature and other factors we want, but opinions vary on what is optimal. If you need more air or light, consider a desk fan or desk lamp. The fan can help for temperature that’s too warm. Keep a jacket or scarf on hand if temperatures are too cold.
- Build good health habits into your daily schedule
Leaving your open workspace for a privacy room for even a few minutes each day is one example of a habit you can build into your schedule. “In addition, take your lunch break,” Trim advised. It’s good for networking too. Walk the floor for exercise and for a broader perspective on your work. “Drink water throughout the day,” she added.
- Build a virtuous cycle
According to the Future Workplace Wellness Study conducted by View, a US company that creates smart buildings, 67% of employees are more productive in workplaces that promote a healthy environment. The benefits could mean one hour or more of increased productivity each day. “Once you incorporate improvements to your workspace and gain that time back, invest it in your career,” she advised.
“Write a list of career-enhancing activities and tick it off. Examples could include catching up on industry news, attending a webinar to update your skills, spending time with colleagues outside your immediate area or even a wellness option like walking outside,” concluded Trim.
Linda Trim is a director at workplace design specialist firm Giant Leap.
by Linda Trim | Sep 27, 2019 | General
From those who choose to co-work when running a remote team to growing start-ups and large corporations offering flexibility and autonomy, the spectacular growth of the co-working market seems to know no bounds.
Linda Trim, a director at FutureSpace, a shared work space joint venture between Investec Property and workplace specialist Giant Leap, said that according to a Global Co-working Unconference, the largest co-working series in the world, forecast, by 2022 there will be 30 432 spaces and 5.1 million paid coworking members worldwide.
She said: “The market shows an average annual growth rate of 24.2% since 2007 and is now less a way of working than a way of life.”
So, what is behind the explosion and what does it mean for South Africa?
“The are so many benefits to co-working,” said Trim. “As demands on workplace flexibility increase, corporations are turning to co-working to solve the problem of rising commercial space costs while staying agile.”
She added that shared workspaces are an energising, open and supportive environment for those who are not ready for their own office or enjoy the flux and energy of shared space.
“It is precisely this flexibility that is so attractive for small businesses and entrepreneurs as they build. For start-ups, the co-working solution ticks all the boxes of flexible, affordable space and a creative hub to foster new ideas and new business.”
The self-employed knowledge worker sector is growing too, bringing with it the need for hubs to provide social interaction, alternative locations than the cramped office desk or coffee shop and clusters of interaction for connectivity.
So, if this market continues to grow and thrive as all the signs indicate, what is its impact on innovation?
For innovation to be successful, the ability to bounce ideas and to foster a culture of creativity is only part of the picture.
“Collaboration is also crucial to innovation, and it is precisely this element that co-working provides,” said Trim. “The need to build links has always been a key part of business, but open innovation speeds up development. This means networking with people both inside and outside of your organisation, making co-working a powerful catalyst.”
Creating an incubator culture through co-working also has an impact on the speed of growth and success rate of start-ups. Co-working members grow through collaboration with the space operator where opportunities allow. That gives start-ups the chance to showcase their businesses to a wider audience that they may not otherwise have had access to.
“Start-ups fail slowly when they’re alone and can’t get impartial feedback. They fail fast when they have access to objective, well-intentioned feedback from fellow co-workers,” she added.
“A high-quality shared office provider will recognise your business model and growth ambitions and offer a rich and compelling programme of networking events.”
By creating introductions and helping to build networks, entrepreneurs have more time to focus on innovation, which is often the motivation to run their own businesses in the first place.
“As the co-working model continues to grow and diversify in South Africa, we can expect to see more opportunities and models for start-up open culture innovation around the country,” Trim concluded.
By Linda Trim, a director at FutureSpace
