Office Design Advice for a Four Day Week

According to recent news reports, UK employees could soon get the right to a four-day working week. The new law is being considered by the Labour party as part of their package for workers.

The new legislation, expected in Autumn, will mean employees can compress their regular hours into four working days rather than five.

With the government moving quickly on this, it’s important for businesses to anticipate how the changes could impact their operations and employees. This begs the question: what should firms do to ensure they are ready?

In this article, we consider that question in relation to the office environment. From lighting to furniture to aesthetics, we’ll look at how businesses can adapt their office interior design to support a four-day week.

But before we get into the office refurbishment tips, let’s look at the details of the four-day week…

What are the Current Rules and How Will They Change?

With changes afoot, it’s important to know exactly how businesses will be affected. Here’s a brief overview of the current rules and how they will change:

• Under existing rules, employees have the right to request flexible working, but businesses aren’t legally obliged to agree.
• The new law would change this, with all businesses needing to offer flexible working, except where it is “not reasonably feasible”. Employers in industries like hospitality or retail will be more likely to argue that requests are not feasible.
• This means office workers may be able to request that their employers allow them to work their normal hours over a four-day period.

While the change would initially mean “compressed hours”, director of the 4 Day Work Week campaign Joe Ryle called on political parties to back a reduction of maximum working week hours from 48 to 32 by the end of the decade.

How Will a Four-Day Week Affect Office Interior Design?

With the initial plan to compress working hours, employees will have to get used to working longer days. This factor will likely prove key in determining how businesses should adapt their office design for wellbeing and productivity.

Employees will also have to manage their time differently, meaning businesses should do all they can to help them adapt to a new schedule. This includes investing in design elements that can support task management.

With these aspects in mind, we have outlined some ideas that will facilitate the transition into a four-day week. This will ensure employees perform well and, in turn, help businesses to maintain a level of efficiency for continued success.

Office Design Tips for a Four Day Working Week

Install Human-Centric Lighting

Given that working hours will be compressed into four days under the new scheme, employees may work earlier in the morning or later into the evening. Therefore, you should provide the right kind of light at the right time of day to help employees stay focused and productive throughout.

Here are some considerations:

• Cool White Light for Daytime Work – Cool white LED lights are often used in offices because they mimic natural daylight. With a colour temperature of between 5000K and 6500K, they provide a bright, neutral light that’s easy on the eye and improves focus.
• Softer Light for Late Afternoon and Evening Work – Those working late may prefer softer lighting if they feel tired and need to relax their eyes. Desk lamps (aka task lights) or products with dimmer controls are great options, as they provide adequate illumination when constant bright overhead light isn’t necessary.

Crucially, this will help to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle (known as the circadian rhythm). By mimicking the natural light and dark cycles, employees will enjoy better quality sleep that helps to reduce fatigue and increase alertness.

Invest in Active Furniture

Longer working days will also mean employees will spend more time sitting at their desks. According to the NHS, inactivity can lead to numerous health issues, so it’s a good idea to offer solutions that encourage activity.

One way to do this is to offer active furniture, which promotes a healthier lifestyle and combats the sedentary nature of office work. Here are some examples:

• Standing Desks – Standing desks offer workers a simple and effective alternative to sitting down in a stationary position all day. As workers can adjust the height, they are also at less risk of strain injuries in the back and neck.
• Treadmill Desks – One growing trend is to combine a treadmill with a work surface so employees can walk and work. The key to this is to walk and type slowly to begin with and build up speed as you get more confident. Oh, and don’t forget a straw for your drink!
• Desk Bikes – Like treadmill desks, desk bikes allow employees to work and exercise at the same time. Even a steady, low-intensity pace is enough to improve circulation and increase energy levels, helping to combat some of the negative effects of working in a static position.
• Balance Stools (aka Motion Stools) – Balance stools facilitate “active sitting”, which means the chair follows your movements and exercises certain parts of the body while sitting. Like all active furniture, they will take a little getting used to, but employees won’t look back when they realise the health benefits. Check out the KI Ricochet Wobble Stool for a great example.

In addition to office furniture solutions, there are numerous small changes employees can make to be more active. For example, they can walk to a colleague’s desk rather than emailing, take a “walk break” when they make a coffee, or set a reminder to get up every 30 minutes.

Encourage Short and Long Breaks

Compressed working hours mean employees will need plenty of energy to last until the end of the day. If they’re running low on energy, pushing through work may put a strain on their wellbeing and result in costly mistakes.

According to a Harvard Business Review article, the best way to help people to boost energy levels is to encourage short and long breaks. The shorter “micro breaks” are said to work best in the morning, while longer breaks are more beneficial in the late afternoon because fatigue worsens over the workday.

Here are some office design ideas to encourage short and long breaks:

• Coffee Stops – By placing soft furniture around the space, workers will be reminded to grab a coffee and step away from their desks to recharge. This is also a great way to make use of dead space during the office refurb process.
• Designated Lunch Area – As workers need more break time in the afternoon to recharge, it’s advantageous to create a designated dinging area. As in the example above, a kitchenette that includes integrated microwaves and fridges is ideal.

The example images here provide great examples of wellbeing-friendly spaces that encourage breaks and support productivity. For more inspiration, check out the Ward Security and Albion Fine Foods project case studies.

Create a Wellness-Focused Design

At the heart of the four-day work week is employee wellbeing. By offering greater flexibility, businesses can boost morale and improve retention, which is ultimately good for business.

While the ideas we’ve given so far are more practical, it’s important to not overlook the aesthetic elements of the space. Here are some ideas that can establish a wellness theme with your office design:

• Classic Biophilia – The leafy biophilic design is always popular because it makes the office look like an oasis of calm. As in the images above, consider living walls and lighting draped in foliage for a truly tranquil interior.
• Chillout Room – On the subject of biophilia, why not create a meeting room with imitation grass walls like Hudl in London? This can double up as a quiet chillout space where workers can practice meditation or mindfulness.
• Scandi Design – The Scandinavian theme uses natural materials like wood, stone, and textiles to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Combine these with rugs and throws for a welcoming design that will be worth the commute.

By combining wellbeing-friendly design with a flexible work option, businesses will not only retain their best employees but attract new talent. This will drive growth and ensure you gain status as a forward-thinking company.

Let Employees Move Around with Agile Working Facilities

If employees are working in an office over 10 hours a day, it’s a good idea to offer plenty of furniture so they aren’t restricted to one space. By offering a range of furniture and work zones, employees can switch to a more comfortable setting or one suited to a specific task.

Typical agile facilities include booths with power points, laptop lounges, hotdesking areas, acoustic pods, and lounges with soft furnishings. Additionally, some companies create “anchor points” where teams can congregate at the start of the day.

For a perfect example of an agile working environment, take a look at Hudl’s sports-themed office in North London.

Pay Attention to Time Management

Without a fifth working day, employees may take a little while to adapt to the change. To help facilitate a smooth transition that also benefits the company, consider how your office design will support task management and productivity.

Key facilities for this include designated quiet spaces for deep work, whiteboards so they have a physical task list, and scrum zones for quick brainstorming sessions. These features may even help employees to be more productive than before, making for a shrewd investment.

Office Design Advice for a Four Day Work Week – Final Takeaway

Ultimately, if you create an office that employees love working in, then your transition to a four-day week will be a success. All the points we’ve covered here relate to improving the workplace experience, so keep that in mind when designing your space.

One more time, here is a summary of the points:

• Install lighting that’s suitable for long days that require work into the evening. Lights with adjustable dimmers and desk lamps are ideal as they offer adequate lighting when constant overhead light isn’t necessary.
• Longer days means more time sitting down, so invest in “active furniture” that allows people to move while working. Products like standing desks, desk bikes, and motion stools will help to combat health issues brought on by sedentary office work.
• Fatigue may be an issue for employers working longer days, so encourage employees to recharge by offering plenty of breakout facilities. Place soft furniture around the office for “micro breaks” and provide dining facilities for longer lunch breaks in the afternoon.
• Embrace an aesthetic that complements overall message of wellness. This may be a traditional biophilic design packed with greenery or a Scandinavian theme that’s warm and inviting.
• Working at a static desk for a long period of time may be uncomfortable, so consider agile working to allow employees to move around. Agile offices often consist of a range of furniture solutions, from acoustic pods to laptop lounges.
• As employees may take time to adapt to the change, make sure your facilities support productivity. This may mean investing in whiteboards so they can keep track of tasks or creating zones for quiet concentration.

Also, don’t forget to invest in #ThursdayFeeling drinks fridge. Just because the last working day of the week isn’t Friday doesn’t mean you should forget to toast your hard work! In fact, it looks like Thursday could become the new Friday in the coming years.

Written by Chris Sparham

Are You Making Office Changes Ahead of the Four-Day Week?

With 30+ year’ experience, Rap Interiors is one of the leading office refurbishment companies in London and the South East. Our dedicated team of design and build experts can guide to you on best solutions to ensure a smooth transition into a four-day week.

To book a consultation, please call 0333 600 1234 or fill out the enquiry form below.