Related terms
Flex office definition
New ways of working offer more flexibility to employees, provided that the company has put in place a new organization. The flex office is one of them: shared offices replace individual workstations. What are its advantages and disadvantages for the company and its employees?
What is the flex office?
No more dedicated office: the flex office introduces the concept of shared offices. Each workspace has a specific use. When employees come to the company's premises, they are free to choose the workstation that suits their needs.
What are the advantages of the flex office?
A model based on the needs and mobility of employees
Workspaces are opening up, reorganizing and giving employees the opportunity to work alone or with others. The furniture must also be hybrid and modular to always meet everyone's needs.
The mobility of each person is reconsidered: an employee who wishes to isolate himself to conduct a telephone conversation will go to a phone box, while the team that needs to discuss a project will reserve a meeting room.
A model that fosters collaboration and a sense of belonging
The company's premises convey its values and culture, which reinforces the sense of belonging of the employees who work there.
In addition, the flex office allows employees to meet other teams or departments. Daily human contact facilitates collaboration and teamwork. And the concept can go even further by coupling it with external spaces to push the approach towards activity based.
A model that encourages creativity and productivity
Employees are more free, mobile and autonomous: routine is broken. This flexibility improves the well-being of employees, and therefore their motivation and productivity. The collaborative spaces created thanks to the flex office also allow to encourage sharing and creativity.
What are the obstacles of the flex office?
If not properly managed, this hybrid model can have some drawbacks.
- The individual office no longer exists: employees no longer decorate workstations with their personal belongings, which can dehumanize the company.
- The organization must be rigorous in order to avoid saturation of office space.
- The company must put in place rules to frame this new mode of organization.
With a defined framework and clear rules for employees, the flex office is an innovative way of working that promotes collaboration and productivity.
