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Workplace revolution: the rise of the office pod As more workers return to the office, meeting pods are emerging as a top trend to take the bustle out of being back at work
T
he evolution of office design is fascinating to
beanbags over there, and not every workplace wants people lounging
consider. We’ve gone from the entirely open
around chatting loudly while others are trying to concentrate. As
plan facilities of the early 20th century, to the
employers look to entice people back to the office, they’re starting to
landscaped offices of the ‘60s, and then to
think ‘outside the box’ - and ‘inside the pod’.
the, often ridiculed, ‘cubicle farms’ of the ‘80s. Today, modern offices retain some elements of
THE POST-PANDEMIC POD TREND
all these ideas, with companies aiming to provide a sense of open plan -
The demand for private spaces within otherwise open plan offices
but in a more attractive, less uniform, manner.
has seen a surge in 2022, and it’s easy to see why. With many people
Today’s workers are more mobile, with WiFi, laptops and mobile
accustomed to working alone, in peace and quiet in their homes
‘phones edging out the need for a dedicated desk littered with cables.
during lockdowns, returning to a chatter-filled office environment can
Workers have broken out of the cubicle, and today have options to
be distracting at best, and stressful at worst.
sit with a group or alone, in different positions around the office.
Mollie Townsend, head of sales at The Meeting Pod Co, says that
Co-working and hot-desking are the buzzwords of the day, with
her company has seen a significant increase in demand for pods, post-
contemporary offices striving to create a home-from-home, and to offer
pandemic. She notes that, as employers seek to encourage workers back
dynamic work settings which can facilitate different types of work.
to the office environment, providing them with secluded working spaces
However, not every office is suited to having a bar over here, and
[22] DECEMBER 2022
www.dealersupport.co.uk
for meetings, collaboration or relaxation has become an important asset