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Showing posts from September, 2018

Why are Offices Becoming More Casual?

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Office dress codes have been slowly disappearing over the years, and the days of wearing suits and ties are over. These days, many businesses are opting for a more casual look and business-casual policies are common even in the financial services industry. This trend is about more than just clothes, however – companies are reducing their levels of hierarchy and bringing junior and senior staff closer together. Business communication is less formal and more straight to the point. Even  office interiors  are becoming more connected and more casual, with mahogany corner offices being transformed into collaborative shared spaces. So, why is this happening? Here are some insights from our corporate office furniture team. Technology:  Tech has made the workplace more connected and more interactive than ever before. Where communications used to have to go through secretarial pools and formal business processes, it’s now easier and faster for a supervisor or manager to simply email o

How Wiring can Impact on your Office Design

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In an age of wireless, digital technology, the designs of our workplaces are still held back by miles and miles of wiring and cables. In the conference room where virtual meetings, group calls and presentations are common, this issue is even more apparent. Limiting Your Options – From Conference Tables to Flooring  The conference table is the focal point of the room, a gathering space that represents your brand to your clients, partners and employees. For many companies, the look of this important piece of furniture is immediately affected by the need for connectivity boxes for connecting laptops and devices and handling every type of video output on the market, from HDMI to mini DisplayPort. This makes minimalist design challenging if not outright impossible. Then, it’s about accommodating the wires that run from the table to the screen (or screens) under the carpeting or beneath the baseboards and through the walls. This fixes your layout in a permanent manner, making it

Mobile Device Privacy and the Modern Workplace

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Did you know that over 74% of organizations in the USA have a “bring your own device” policy in the workplace? As our personal lives – and devices – overlap so frequently with our professional lives, it becomes more and more important to focus on mobile device privacy issues. Here are just a few to consider from our  contemporary office furniture team . Pop-up notifications:  These are often a useful feature and many apps offer push notifications as part of their service. However, these can be hugely problematic when in the workplace. Ensuring that your smartphone or device is turned to “do not disturb” mode whenever it is being used in a presentation or even charging in a visible spot is essential. Overheard phone conversations:  These have been a workplace issue ever since telephones became popular in professional spaces, but cellphones have dramatically impacted this issue. Thanks to mobile devices, we are expected to be available anytime, anywhere – at home or at work – fo

How Tech Can Boost Workplace Engagement

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Every forward-thinking company knows that employee engagement is key to the success of their business. After all, engaged employees are more satisfied with their jobs, less likely to leave the company and are more productive and effective in the workplace. While workplace relationships play a critical role in employee engagement, technology is also important to creating the right workplace culture and environment. Technology has a significant impact on how and even where we work, whatever the industry we work in. Here are some new technologies on the horizon that could impact on how we engage in the workplace. Artificial intelligence:  AI is slowly becoming more prevalent in high-tech work environments and shows incredible promise for the not-so-distant future. With the right application of AI, buildings could self-regulate temperature, lighting and air quality. Work environments have even been designed using AI, like the headquarters of software giants AutoDesk in Toronto, t