(NC) The pandemic has changed the way many of us work, but it’s just one of the factors transforming what tomorrow’s office buildings, factories and other in-person workspaces will look like. Here are some trends to keep an eye out for:
Wellness
Whether you’re doing double duty as a parent and full-time employee or trying to distance your “work” space from your “home” space, work-life balance has become an even bigger challenge for many of us. But some organizations are making it easier for you to juggle it all. From flexible hours and on-site fitness centres to private pods for breastfeeding and sit-stand desks with timers to encourage movement, work is becoming a place that supports not just your wallet but your overall well-being.
Accessibility
As our society begins to realize the true benefits of diversity, our workplaces are becoming more physically accessible to better accommodate employees and guests with varying levels of mobility. Doorways, elevators and hallways in newer buildings are becoming extra wide; podiums are being built with adjustable height options; and tactile strips are facilitating movement for people living with a visual impairment.
Eco-friendly
Tackling climate change and minimizing carbon footprints are major goals for most organizations, and there’s no better place to start than in the workplace itself. Features like motion-controlled LED lighting, rainwater collection and drought-resistant landscaping are becoming more common at corporate facilities across the country.
One example of a workplace blending employee wellness, physical accessibility and carbon reduction is Toyota’s new warehouse in Clarington, Ontario. From a quiet wellness room and rooftop garden, to fully accessible shower stalls and extra-wide accessible parking spaces, to geothermal heating and self-tinting windows, the building is one of the first of its kind in Canada and is set to receive national recognition for its environmental sustainability and physical accessibility.