What is an Office?

How important is Office Layout

Types of Office Layout

Working Conditions

Work Practices

A location, usually a building or portion of abuilding, where company conducts its

business.

a room, set of rooms, or building used as aplace for commercial, professional, orbureaucratic work

Office layouts are arranged so that staff canwork together in departmental and teamgroupings, providing the best opportunity forefficient work flow, communication andsupervision.

Must be adoptable to meet volume changes

Provides enough working and storage space

Take account of flow of work

Allow easy access for employees

Easy access to services

Easy access to equipment

Provide security for equipment and information

Cellular Office layout

Open or flexible Office Layout

Collection of rooms in which employees work on their own or in small groups

It has permanent

Partitions

Doors

windows

Rooms can be locked

Less distraction for employees

Offices can be used for meetings

Each room designed for employee

Noisy office equipment can be housed elsewhere

Injections and illnesses less easily spread

Employees can personalise their environment

Harder for manager to supervise staff

Communication may be more difficult

Time lost moving from room to room

Employees may feel isolated

Overheads are higher due to individual rooms

Harder to change work area layout

Less friendly or relaxed atmosphere

Also known as Flexible Office

A large are where manyemployees work together

Activities are grouped so toreduce time being wasted

Employees may Share workingareas

The office space can bedivided through the use ofscreens, filing cabinets andothers

Easier for managers to supervise staff

Easier to organize meeting of groups of workers

Less time wasted passing information/work

Work area size can be changed

Equipment can be shared more easily

Employees may find it hard to concentrate

Employees may be distracted

Difficult to restrict access

Fewer areas for confidential meetings

Infections and illnesses can be more easily spread

Less wall space for departmentsal information

Lighting, heating and ventilation may not suit everyone

Suited to type of workMaximize space availableAllow for changing needsAttractive working

environmentSafe working conditionsKeep noise and distraction

to minimumGood use of heating,

lighting & ventilation

It can be easy to overlook the impact of proper lighting in theworkplace. With many businesses seeking to save money on electricitybills, lighting that is too dim or too harsh may be more cost-effective intheory but detrimental to employee productivity.

Divided working areas to maximize space but still convenient for working

Hot desk is a spare desk/ workstation which may be booked advancefor use by any employee. They are most likely to be used by employeesvisiting from another branch or staff who normally work from home.

Each hot-desk will have a standard layout and equipment – usually alarge work area with a computer, chair and phone

Similar idea to hot-desking. A carrel is a small booth which can bebooked to work in

Carrels provide more privacy and fewer distraction for employees

A touchdown area may be provided for employees who require tomake a brief visit to the office – to send faxes/emails

Two or more employees share ONE full-time job between them. Eachemployee is paid in proportion to the number of hours they work.

Suitable for employees who do not wish to take on a permanent full-time job.

If one job share partner is ill or holiday then the other employeemight be available to cover the hours

This system allows employeesto start work early/late andfinish early/late

Employees must be in theoffice working during CORETIME.

If Employee builds up extrahours (by coming early andworking late) they may be ableto take the time off at a laterdate.

Flexi time allows employees toavoid rush hour traffic and beable to take children to andfrom school, etc.

The employee will be able to fitin appointments.

The company may be able tocut down on overtimepayments

This system allows employees to work from home some or allof the time

Information and communication technology is required by theemployee to carry out the tasks and communicate with theoffice.

It is suitable for employee live far from the office.

Employees save time andmoney on travelling to work

The employee may be able tolook after their children andwork at the same time.

Employees can work in relaxedenvironment and have greaterflexibility about their hours ofwork

Employers lose control over employees There are purchase and maintenance costs associated with

the IT Employees will miss out on the social aspects of work It is more difficult for the employer to ensure that the

employee is following the rules and regulations of thecompany.

Any changes in an office layout must meet health and safety requiremnts, eg. Ventilation, Lighting , Spacing, etc...

Staff must kept in mind staff must:•Feel that they have been consulted•Be able to work efficiently•Be able to use the correct equipment and facilities

Managers must maintain good communication as staff may feel insecure during times of change. Isecurity may result in illness and increased abdentism.

When changing office layout, managementmust consider the cost of change. This may include the cost of new buildings, training, new equipment and furniture