Privacy is a much sought-after luxury in today’s working world. Increasingly, UK workplaces are going open-plan – almost half of all offices in fact – twice the global average.
Research suggests that these types of workplaces have grown in popularity as the result of pricey business premises (particularly in London) and as more and more companies opt for open-plan spaces, privacy is in demand. The University of California estimates that the average office worker is interrupted or distracted every 3 minutes, and it takes an average of 23 minutes to return to a task after being interrupted in some way. Further, a lack of privacy has been found to negatively affect employees’ stress levels, performance and engagement.
So, what’s the solution? It seems that employees want two things: choice and control. They want distinctly different spaces to work in at distinctly different times. At Penketh Group, we believe that the hallmark of truly effective workplace design lies in the deployment of these elements, and that this can help to ensure the well-being of your employees too.
There are various factors to be considered when we talk about privacy, and these are listed below:
Acoustical – this looks at managing who you hear or what you allow others to hear
Visual – this refers to ‘not being seen’ or controlling sight-induced distractions
Territorial – this looks at claiming a space and controlling it as your own
Informational – this refers to keeping written, digital and/or verbal content confidential
At Penketh Group we offer a wide range of solutions to create these different forms of privacy.
Enclaves
A private enclave provides the ideal escape for workers who need comfortable solo spaces to gather their thoughts, make a phone call or complete quiet, focused work. More and more businesses are seeing the benefits of incorporating private enclaves into the workplace to promote focus and rejuvenation.
Acoustic Meeting/Focus Pods
In addition to promoting collaborative work, meeting pods provide a relaxed, focus space for individuals looking to concentrate and get a task done. Innovative Railway carriages are new modular meeting pods reinventing the modern workplace, helping to retain the top talent and promote well-being. Learn more about office acoustics.
Acoustic Panels
Acoustic Panels are the ideal alternative to fabric-wrapped frames. Extremely flexible with the ability to provide custom colour printing and cutting, they can be adjusted to fit your individual office space and are really light-weight and durable.
Under the Bell
The clever acoustic lighting provided by Under the bell creates a room within a room. It’s ideal for making a more private space away from the hustle and bustle of your open plan office, but without the need for private enclaves or acoustic panels.
Den by Ocee Design
Acoustically enhanced to minimise noise and distractions, Den is a range of acoustic work areas which aid productivity, providing a space for staff can get on with their work without distractions. There are eight styles to choose from and many configurations, enabling you to build the type of Den that suits you best!
