Meeting booths and pods have become a staple of the modern workplace, across a whole variety of sectors and industries. It’s not just about kitting your office out with the latest products though. In this blog post, we want to highlight some of the main benefits of this type of micro work setting including:
- Better privacy
- Improved wellbeing
- Lower stress levels
- A boost in concentration
- Supporting confidentiality
- Combating excess noise (acoustic pods)
What are office meeting pods used for?
Well, the clue is in the name really. This type of product is used to create a meeting area within a workplace which most likely isn’t as big or executive as a boardroom. It provides somewhere where one or multiple employee(s) can go to get away from their work area if and when the task calls for it.
That said, there are actually many other uses for meeting pods alongside meetings. These include individual focus or concentration, somewhere to take private phone calls or as a rejuvenation space where staff can go to recharge and refresh.
Basically, it’s all about creating a microenvironment within the wider ecosystem of work settings which gives users a place where they can go to find space, quiet, privacy or distraction-free focus. So, as meeting pods have become more commonplace in modern working environments, they’re also becoming increasingly versatile.
The different types of meeting booth:
Meeting booths or pods can come in all shapes and sizes these days, with sheds and telephone boxes being some of the most popular design inspirations. As product development advances and the marketplace offers more choices, we’re seeing a diverse choice between things like:
- Classic standalone upholstered meeting booths
- Floor to ceiling glass miniature meeting rooms
- Soundproof phonebox style pods commonly known as acoustic pods
- Semi-shielded meeting areas which offer a certain level of visual cover and noise cancellation
Then, of course, there is variety around features such as:
- Colour
- Texture
- Fabric and finishes
- Technology integration
- Accessories (such as foot stools, laptop tables, electronic booking systems)
Benefits of an office meeting pod:
As we said in our article about hospitality as a trend in commercial interior design, any product or design decision needs to fulfil a function as well as look great. So, if you’re considering implementing meeting pods or booths into your workspace, it’s essential that you first think about what you want to get out of the product.
Here are some of the most common advantages that meeting pods and booths bring to the table:
Providing more privacy
One of the main issues that have come to light as experts start to predict a decline in open plan working is a lack of privacy. A huge 95% of workers say they need quiet, private spaces yet 41% say they don’t have access to them – this type of facility is the ideal way to accommodate this without having to break the bank or cause any disruption.
Combating excess noise with acoustic pods
Another issue which has reared more prolifically since open plan offices become more popular is the issue of excess noise. Many meeting pods and booths are now manufactured using acoustic materials which help absorb unwanted background sound.
Improving concentration and productivity
According to Steelcase research, we get distracted every 11 minutes and 25% of lost time is due to distractions in or near work areas. Providing a place where people can go to escape visual and audio disruptions will help keep concentration and productivity in order.
Lowering stress levels and bettering wellbeing
Creating a work setting which is designed in response to common workplace issues is an effective way to improve employee experience and job satisfaction. Motivation levels and workplace positivity will be higher and stress levels will be lower.
Making sure confidentiality is covered
The Privacy Crisis we mentioned earlier is not only detrimental to concentration, productivity and stress levels, it can also mean confidentiality is compromised. An enclosed and acoustically-enhanced meeting pod is an effective solution to this problem.
Relatively simple and affordable
The cost of an office fit out or refurbishment can be pretty hefty, especially if it involves structural changes. A meeting booth or pod enables you to create a self-sufficient work setting within the wider workplace for much less money and much less hassle.
