While many companies are by now familiar with the “open office” layout, the idea is still evolving. A major example has come courtesy of Citigroup, which recently introduced a version of this concept into its New York building.
According to the Wall Street Journal, this example won’t feature traditional desks or personal offices, and the CEO, Michael Corbat, says that workers will be more likely to “bump into people,” generating more collaboration.
The article details the multiple ways the company is attempting to aid employees with this redesign, including rooms intended for private conversations.
One Citigroup worker handling the renovation said that the change will bring some of the principles of the trading floor, an area known for productivity, to the office. Eventually, the plan will encompass all of the New York tower and allow for 12,500 employees to work there.
The changes are set for completion in 2020. Writing for Business Finance News, Jason Graul referenced the difficulties of successfully implementing this level of overhaul in an office.
“We believe that the implementation of this new layout will be beneficial for the bank as long as the performance is concerned but implementing it peacefully would be a challenge,” he said. “A change is normally brought in a workplace which is not performing well; to improve its performance.”
Companies that want to reduce their carbon footprint have the additional concern of using the right environmental office solutions to do so. Locally sourced furniture gives businesses the satisfaction of committing to better practices as they make decisive changes.
