Page 15 - BOSS Today Issue 46

SPECIAL FEATURE BOSS Today #46

VARIETY IS

THE SPICE OF…

THE WORKPLACE

It seems that while UK office environments are changing for the better, there is still some way to go.

hile UK workers are now reported differences in requirements by age another research study entitled
Wto be happier with their office group is an interesting one, because Welcoming Workplace by Jeremy
environment than ever before, the there is no doubt that the UK workforce Myerson, the Director of the Helen
findings of a recent study by estate is ageing. In 1992, one in five people in Hamlyn Centre For Design, found that
agents Savills, entitled What Workers employment was aged over 50; today, “the challenges faced by older workers –
Want: Europe 2019, reveal that many around a third of the UK workforce noise, distraction, frustrating IT systems,
office workers still believe that is over the age of 50. Indeed, the general discomfort and a dispiriting
their office design is in fact actively percentage of workers aged 65 and lack of wellbeing – were precisely those
hindering their productivity: over has doubled in the last decade, and shared by people of all ages working in
this trend is set to intensify in future. large, modern, open plan offices. It isn't
n 32% of all workers say that their Average retirement ages (currently 64.5 just older workers who crave quiet and
workplace’s internal design/layout years for men and 62.0 years for women) privacy when they want to concentrate
decreases their productivity: have steadily increased over the past on solo tasks – or dedicated tools and
interestingly, this rises to 45% of decade: falling annuity rates, the closure spaces for collaboration when they want
those who work for an employer of generous defined benefit pension to work in a team – everybody does.”
with a hot desking policy. schemes and planned pension reforms Vanessa Warne, Category Director for
n 73% of office workers based in an open have all provided strong financial Furniture of VOW, agrees: “The needs of
plan office say that the internal design/ reasons against early retirement for older office workers are similar or the
layout decreases their productivity: this all but the wealthiest workers. same as that of younger office workers
is are more than twice the proportion Furthermore, the stark economic and therefore can easily be incorporated
of those based in a private office. truth is that, unless a higher proportion into an inclusive environment. It is
n 60% of office workers still want to of older people remains in the labour somewhat a myth that older workers
have their own dedicated desk. There is force, total employment growth in the are less technologically-capable,
very little variation in this requirement UK will slow, with adverse implications given that we have been working with
between age groups, exploding the for overall economic output. As a result, computers for more than three decades,
myth that younger workers are employers will need to make work more and we see older workers as crucial
more prepared to work flexibly. attractive and feasible for older workers to the growth of the UK economy.”
and adapt their working practices and The Helen Hamlyn Centre
What Older Workers Want workplaces to manage and support them. research identified three key spaces
The point about there being few How can this be done? Interestingly, within workplaces to facilitate

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