Three Interesting Innovation in the Way We Work

Three Interesting Innovation in the Way We Work

With technology advancing at an exponential rate, we have come leaps and bounds when it comes to adapting the workplace to new innovations that make our work more efficient. The traditional workplace of yesteryear looked much like a scene out of Mad Men, with employees coming into the office in suits and ties and sitting at their desk or cubicle, and working from 9 to 5 with a one hour lunch break. The modern workplace, however, is a far cry from this scene.These days e-mail, smart phones, and video conferencing are changing the way that we are able to work. With further technological innovations being created every minute, these changes are unlikely to end anytime soon. Here are three cutting edge methods that some companies are currently innovating the work space to create a happier, more efficient workforce.

Open and Informal Work Spaces

Gone are the days of corner offices and cubicles. In are what is being referred to as collaborative work spaces, or co-working. These office environments provide employees with various options when it comes to how they physically work. Often there are no assigned seats, meaning that employees can sit in a different seat every day, if they choose. Proponents of this type of working environment argue that it allows employees to get to know one another better and, thus, increase collaborative efforts. It also gives workers the opportunity to have a change of scenery, which might prompt creativity and, at the very least, reduce the monotony that comes with sitting in one place for 40 hours a week. Charles Phillips of Infor manages a staff of 13,000 across the globe. At his headquarters, this sort of working environment is in place, which he says encourages brainstorming and more collaboration among various ranks of employees.

Vacation Time

While the average American get somewhere between 12 and 30 days of leave per year, depending on tenure, companies are starting to embrace these traditional vacation policy in favor of more fluid ones. These companies are now allowing employees to decide how much vacation time they are able to take. This means that as long as a worker is performing up to standard, they can take as much (or little) time off as they would like. The philosophy behind this is that there is often a lot of unnecessary vacation that employees take in order to “use up” all of their days before the end of the year. When employees can choose for themselves, they often end of taking less time off, meaning more productivity. Additionally, these less rigid policies develop a deeper trust between employer and employee and reduce burnout if an employee truly does need to take more time off.

Working Virtually

Another way that employees are able to be more collaborative and flexible in their work is through the rise of virtual workplaces. Technologies such as cloud-based project collaboration and video conferencing have allowed companies to cut down on travel, while continuing to stay in constant communication with partners, employees, and clients. Additionally, these technological advance have allowed employees to take advantage of more flexible work environments, which allow them to work while on the road.