This article is part of the series Beyond Hybrid:
99 Things You Need to Know Now

Privacy: The Ultimate Perk Insights and ideas 16-25 for a new era of work Privacy:
The Ultimate Perk The overwhelming message about hybrid work is that people come to the office to collaborate. Yet, when asked what they need most, people say it’s privacy for individual work. The data is mixed for a reason — people want both. They want to get the face-to-face interaction that’s so difficult to replicate through screens and they really need to get their individual work done.

It’s no wonder some organizations are shifting toward unassigned personal spaces or simply reducing the number of spaces, especially if employees aren’t coming to the office regularly. But people say they still want personal spaces at their workplace, they just need to be better than the open-plan spaces they railed against before the pandemic. People have customized their home offices since then and the workplace has to be as good or better. New Steelcase global research tells us how important working alone is throughout the day.

53% of time is spent
working alone People spend the largest portion of their day doing focus work. That’s why it’s more important than ever that offices offer spaces where workers can go to think, clear their heads and focus more deeply. It’s a post-pandemic must-have that can pay big dividends in attracting people, keeping them happier, and keeping them longer.

57% 44% Individual contributors Leaders Leaders have more access to privacy, yet spend less time working alone than individual contributors. Time spent working alone

The office improvements that would motivate people to come in more often are all about individual spaces. Steelcase Work Tents provide an alternative solution for privacy. When asked what office improvements would motivate people to come to the office more, the top answers were about individual spaces: 1  More privacy
2  Assigned workspace
3  Larger workspace
4  Personal ergonomic furniture

An open office isn’t always the best place to work — especially with more virtual calls today. With so many audio and visual distractions, there aren’t enough private spaces in most offices for people to focus, take a call or rejuvenate.

Busy backgrounds and a lack of boundaries distract during video calls.

Many spaces aren’t remote-ready. Power, lighting and monitors make it easier to connect.

Lack of informational privacy can prevent people from talking about or showing content on sensitive topics.

Offer a variety of privacy options.
Fully enclosed enclaves, pods, screens, or shelves can provide diverse ways for people to seek out the right level of privacy for the type of work they’re doing. Well-curated backgrounds can provide a professional look free of distraction for those on the other side of the meeting. A range of seating is needed to support different types of work.
For shared spaces, chairs should respond to bodies of all shapes and sizes and require few manual adjustments to get comfortable. People with assigned spaces will want a fully-adjustable chair they can dial in to their exact preferences, that keeps them comfortable longer. Whether sharing or calling it your own, height-adjustable desks are worth it.
More people can use the same space comfortably if shared, and those with assigned desks who may sit longer can change postures and keep moving. Provide optimal lighting for different kinds of hybrid work.
A task light that is designed for
on-video experiences highlights people’s faces and helps them control their appearance on camera and make up for ambient light. A table lamp with a shade that provides a soft glow also works well. External monitors not only make
it easier to toggle between tasks, but they can make it easier to share content on video.
External cameras can be repositioned or refocused so people or content can be seen well. Flexible power allows people to stay charged up wherever they choose to focus.
While power is standard in most personal spaces, in many shared spaces it can be an afterthought or costly to install, which is where flexible power comes in. Personal Spaces for Focus When people have the ability to focus, they think and feel better. There’s a number of ways to tackle office overwhelm and make it easier for people to find spaces where they can get work done. More people can use the same space comfortably if shared, and those with assigned desks who may sit longer can change postures and keep moving. For shared spaces, chairs should respond to bodies of all shapes and sizes and require few manual adjustments to get comfortable. People with assigned spaces will want a fully-adjustable chair they can dial in to their exact preferences, that keeps them comfortable longer. Fully enclosed enclaves, pods, screens, or shelves can provide diverse ways for people to seek out the right level of privacy for the type of work they’re doing. Well-curated backgrounds can provide a professional look free of distraction for those on the other side of the meeting. Whether sharing or calling it your own, height-adjustable desks are worth it. Offer a variety of privacy options. A range of seating is needed to support different types of work. A task light that is designed for on-video experiences highlights people’s faces and helps them control their appearance on camera and make up for ambient light. A table lamp with a shade that provides a soft glow also works well. External monitors not only make it easier to toggle between tasks, but they can make it easier to share content on video. Flexible power allows people to stay charged up wherever they choose to focus. While power is standard in most personal spaces, in many shared spaces it can be an afterthought or costly to install, which is where flexible power comes in. External cameras can be repositioned or refocused so people or content can be seen well. Provide optimal lighting for different kinds of hybrid work.

23 Provide optimal lighting for different kinds of hybrid work. 20 Offer a variety of privacy options. 19 An open office isn’t always the best place to work — especially with more virtual calls today. 18 The office improvements that would motivate people to come in more often are all about individual spaces. 21 A range of seating is needed to support different types of work. 24 External monitors not only make it easier to toggle between tasks, but they can make it easier to share content on video. 17 Leaders have more access to privacy,
yet spend less time working alone
than individual contributors. 16 People spend the largest portion
of their day doing focus work. 25 Flexible power allows people to stay charged up wherever they choose to focus. 22 Whether sharing or calling it your own, height-adjustable desks are worth it. The Takeaway Insights and ideas 16-25 for a new era of work

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