{"id":23303,"date":"2021-11-22T12:17:32","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T20:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.poly.com\/?p=23303"},"modified":"2021-11-22T12:54:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T20:54:29","slug":"the-importance-of-focus-rooms-in-hybrid-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.poly.com\/the-importance-of-focus-rooms-in-hybrid-work\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Focus Rooms in Hybrid Work"},"content":{"rendered":"
Focus room popularity was on the rise in pre-covid times before video conferencing became the universal norm.\u00a0However, we are now faced with the same problems that focus rooms stood to solve pre-pandemic, but the implementation of hybrid working has added\u00a0a new layer of complexity to this solution; and doubled,\u00a0if not tripled its importance. To understand the nuances of the focus room solution today,\u00a0it is\u00a0important to first look at the evolution of workspace optimization.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to\u00a0Wainhouse Research,\u00a0\u201csmall rooms account for the largest percentage of conference rooms in the workplace and will see the highest increase in unit count over the foreseeable future. We expect ultra-small rooms for one or two people (also known as focus rooms, touchdown rooms, or telephone booth rooms) to account for most of this growth as they are an ideal workplace solution for the growing acceptance of hybrid work.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n TRADITIONAL CUBICLES<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The traditional corporate\u00a0<\/span>cubicle was designed in the 1960s as a solution to the original open workspace plan that was commonplace in the early 1900s. Some characteristics of this office style were:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n OPEN WORKSPACE<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The original open workspace concept predates the era of cubicles, but in recent years, it has made a\u00a0highly contested\u00a0return. Pre-pandemic, \u201chip\u201d tech companies seemed to be moving to open workspaces in mass as a way to disrupt the perceived \u201cstuffiness\u201d of closed workspaces.\u00a0Characteristics\u00a0of open workspaces in the late 2010s were:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So, hip or not, it has become clear\u00a0<\/span>focus rooms became a crucial part of open workspace success<\/span><\/b>. Companies that\u00a0<\/span>can<\/span><\/i>\u00a0provide an adequate amount of focus spaces\u00a0are able to reap the benefits of both workspace styles.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The reality is that there is no \u201cright\u201d way to work. Some are most successful working without the office altogether, some from the open office, some from a private workspace, and some feel that they can optimize their productivity with the option to do all. This has led to the birth of \u201chybrid work\u201d. While the definition of \u201chybrid-work\u201d varies from organization to organization, there are some common characteristics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Taking this into consideration, the need for a focus room has never been greater. Focus rooms provide a space for employees to take private video calls, and as we all know, the amount of video calls in our workdays has risen significantly. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Successful, long-term implementation of hybrid work\u00a0also\u00a0requires that companies strive to achieve meeting equality. Unequal experiences of remote and in-office employees played\u00a0a huge role in why many companies (and employees too) felt that they could not fully commit to remote work\u00a0pre-pandemic\u00a0until they didn’t have a choice. It seems\u00a0that\u00a0if we are not able to give equal experiences to remote and in-office employees\u00a0under hybrid work models, we will continue to see the same friction with remote work that we saw pre-pandemic.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEvolution of the Workspace<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
<\/h4>\n
Hybrid Work & Focus Rooms<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
Focus Rooms Play a Role in Meeting Equality<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n