when it comes to setting up the home office, many workers ...€¦ · when it comes to setting up...
TRANSCRIPT
When it comes to setting up the home office, many workers are on their own—and poorly designed workplaces can lead to productivity losses or even injuries from muscle strain. Here are a few principles for establishing your home office. These simple considerations can create an environment that is productive, ergonomic and inspiring.
WORKING FROM HOME
2. Make it privateReduce potential disruptions—you don’t want the dog interrupting
a conference call! Use walls or partitions for visual privacy, and
absorptive materials to reduce noise, or wear headphones.
4. Clear a wallA whiteboard, pin-up space, magnetic surface or chalkboard is a
good place to write task lists or communicate ideas over video.
5. Adjust your chairFind an adjustable chair, with lumbar support, that allows your feet
to rest flat on the floor, with your hips and knees bent slightly more
than 90 degrees.
1. Sit by the windowFind a spot near a window for sunlight and fresh air. To reduce
glare on your computer screen, sit with the window beside or in
front of you, not behind you.
3. Clear a tableYour work surface should be high enough that your elbows bend at a
90-degree angle when you type; install a keyboard tray if necessary.
The top of your monitor should be level with your eyes.
6. Store itAre you a Filer, Piler, Pinner or Clouder? Include enough filing
cabinets, clear horizontal surfaces, clear vertical surfaces or disk
space to meet your storage needs.
8. Personalize your spaceIncorporate small items—photos, art, plants, objects—that
inspire you. Be selective, to keep the workplace uncluttered.
9. Work and ConnectChances are, your work requires technology. You’ll also need it
to connect with your coworkers, via text messages, conference
calls or video chats.
7. Take it with youYou need to leave home sometime—to meet both coworkers
and clients. Make sure you have a good bag for carrying printed
files and mobile devices.
10. Illuminate your workYour choice of task lighting can also bring color and personality
into the home office.
Your Stuff
Telework is possible thanks to widely available communications
technology, but in addition to the obvious devices, there are
several other items that will help you work efficiently, and in a
space that feels comfortable. Here’s the beginning of your
shopping list.
Your Space
Where you locate the workplace within your home can make
a big impact on your ability to focus on your tasks, and on
the ergonomics and healthiness of your work environment.
Regardless of how much space you have, keep these basic
principles in mind.
H O W D O Y O U S E T U P Y O U R H O M E O F F I C E ?
H O W M U C H S P A C E D O Y O U H A V E ?
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Do you have a one-bedroom apartment or loft with space in the corner? With a little creativity and careful planning, a corner can feel like a distinct workplace too. Screen
your “office” with partitions that double as storage, and devote this furniture exclusively to work if
possible. When the day ends, leave your work—both physically and psychologically—in this corner.
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Do you have a studio with no space at all?Then you’re probably sitting at your dining room table! The basic principles still apply, but
the challenge is to psychologically separate the work and home environments. Your space
must be completely flexible, so make sure your storage allows you to pack everything away
at the end of the day.
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Do you have a house with a spare room?Congratulations! It’s easier to create a productive workplace when there’s extra space to
work with. You can build a fully functional work environment with most of the features of a
typical office, without having to worry so much about privacy from children or pets.
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Send updatesRegularly update colleagues on
your work, through scheduled
conference calls or emails.
Take a breakInstitute a virtual happy hour—
coordinate downtime to connect
personally with colleagues over
video or the phone.
Make a dateGet out of the house, and
meet with colleagues over
coffee or lunch.
Don’t forget to change your environment occasionally—
stand up and stretch, or even move to the couch for a little
while. It’s better to move than to sit in one position all day.
Thanks to mobile technology, the options are almost endless!
One Final Note
W H A T I S Y O U R T E L E W O R K I N G S T Y L E ?
It’s important to stay connected to colleagues. This can ease employers’ fears of
employees slacking off at home, and employees’ fears of being forgotten or passed
over for promotions. Because chance encounters are a major driver of innovative
ideas and workplace satisfaction, they’re important for the bottom line.
Y O U R T E L E W O R K
S T Y L E
Travel to HQYou’ll have visit the main office
eventually. Take advantage of
this opportunity to connect with
colleagues both in and out of
formal meetings.
Use technologyKeep in touch using real-time
tools like instant messaging,
video or social media.
P. J. Mateyka, M. A. Rapino, and L. C. Landivar, U.S., “Home Based Workers
in the United States: 2010,” Census Bureau, October 2012.
P. J. Mateyka, M. A. Rapino, and L. C. Landivar, U.S., “Home Based Workers
in the United States: 2010,” Census Bureau, October 2012.
N. Bloom, J. Liang, J. Roberts, and Z. J. Ying, “Does Working from Home Work?
Evidence from a Chinese Experiment,” 22 February 2013.
“Ergonomics and Repetitive Strain Injury,” StrategyOne, April 2008.
Nearly 10% of U.S. employees work at
least one day per week from home, a
20% increase since 2005.
Researchers found a 13% increase in
productivity when Chinese call-center
employees were allowed to telework.
Personal income is $20,000/year
higher for those who telework at least
one day per week.
Musculoskeletal disorders such as stress injuries
cost $20 billion/year in workers compensation
claims—which raises insurance rates.
A Microsoft-sponsored study found
that mobile work has increased the
frequency of stress injuries.
For each day per week worked from
home, the average U.S. employee saves
2,500 commuting miles.
H I G H E R I N C O M EP R O D U C T I V I T Y W O R K E R S C O M P
D I D Y O U K N O W ?
2012 Status of Telework in the Federal Government: Report to Congress,”
United States Office of Personnel Management, June 2012.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Visit nbbj.com to download this poster. To learn more about telework programs, space planning, design guidelines
or other corporate workplace strategies, contact interior design leader Suzanne Carlson at [email protected].
W A N T T O L E A R N M O R E ?