Business Info - issue 137

www.binfo.co.uk 40 magazine More and more workers are asking for flexible working arrangements. In a survey by XpertHR, 56% of UK employers said they had seen an increase in flexible working requests over the past two years. Three out of four believe this is due to changes in workplace culture, attributable in part to the extension, in 2014, of the right to request flexible working to all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service. The introduction of remote working and flexible start/finish times has freed employers from having to provide each office worker with their own desk and enabled them to use space more creatively, as Chris Batt, product sector manager at Herman Miller, explains. “Over the last few years we have seen a shift away from high density uniform clusters of dedicated workstations to a much less formal office environment where individuals can choose where and how they work, with much more postural change supported throughout the office,” What flexible working brings to the table he said. “When an individual wants to concentrate they can do this, but now they can choose if they want to sit or stand. If people want to work in a socially connected environment, rather than at a desk, they can choose a café or break-out area.” Steve Bays, managing director at Century Office, says that compared to the boxed-in cubicles of the ‘80s today’s informal, open plan offices give workers much more freedom to move around and interact with colleagues. “We’re now creating offices that boost collaboration and encourage employees to move around during the day and at regular intervals. Informal spaces, such as sofas, the office café, breakout pods and booths, allow for a change of scenery and a welcome excuse to step away from the desk. These areas also help to break down communication barriers, while increasing the opportunity for spontaneity,” he said. Bays added: “Conversations made in these areas can lead to great ideas that may positively affect the future of the business.” Health and wellbeing For Steelcase UK brand manager Alexander Gifford, standard desks no longer offer the functionality workers need. Nor do they do enough to support the wellbeing of their users. Instead, modern solutions like the Steelcase Bivi desking system support a variety Business Info explores the impact of flexible working on office desking Collaborative system Atlas Office Landscape by Herman Miller combines height-adjustability and collaborative working in one solution. Thanks to its no-beam design, the versatile system can be configured to fit different spaces and needs, supporting focused activity or impromptu meetings. Screens, shared cable management, personal storage and meeting tables can all be integrated into the workspace. www.hermanmiller.co.uk Adaptable design Steekcase's Bivi is a modular desking system that supports a variety of postures, allowing users to alternate between sitting, standing and lounging. It promotes movement in the workplace through a reconfigurable design and variety of accessories. These include built-in sofas, storage, privacy screens and arches that support canopies, mountain bikes and skateboards.  www.steelcase.com Move more Also from Herman Miller, the Ratio height-adjustable desk is designed to encourage users to vary their posture throughout the day.With its clean lines and lightweight design, Ratio blends into the modern office environment. It is available with two kinds of electric height adjustment, including programmable pre- sets for use at assigned desks, so the user can adjust their desk to the right height at the touch of a button, or manual height adjustment. www.hermanmiller.co.uk DESKING SOLUTIONS Rainbow Coomantle OFFICE DESKING