The Changing Office

Office work is undergoing a managerial and technological revolution. Cost reduction strategies and rising worker productivity have combined with rapid advances in telecommunications, computer software and hardware design to redesign the workplace.

Alternatives to the traditional four-walled office are being used with greater frequency to accommodate a more diverse and mobile workforce. Here are a few changes you'll be seeing in the years ahead:
 

• More Telecommuting. This will gain momentum, especially in companies with more than 1,000 employees.

• Rise in Team Environment. Flexible silos of workers whose composition can change over time will be task focused and less title intensive. Workers will be assembled into teams then disbanded and reassembled project by project.

• Alternative Work Schedules. While trendy in sound and concept, AWS has not gained the momentum anticipated. Participation rates range from 28% for team environments to 5% for telecommuting.

• More Cubicles. Regrettably, stuffing lower level people into smaller and smaller cages will continue as office space becomes increasingly expensive. This trend will push some talented performers out of office work and into the field.

• Rise of Virtual Office. More employee productivity will come out of "virtual" offices. Thanks to telework centers and technology that connects employees and managers via phone, web, email and other software, this will be a growing trend.

• Better Morale. Most employees will experience higher worker morale associated with telecommuting and non-territorial offices.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:



Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.