The average office worker needs about 150 to 250 USF office spaces to do their job effectively. However, with office space becoming a scarce commodity in major metropolitan areas, this is a luxury most business owners need help to afford.
The responsibility of ensuring employees have adequate space for peak productivity falls squarely on business owners and executives. The area should cover everything from office spaces and equipment to storage for office supplies and personal belongings. Of course, there's always room for compromise, but how much compromise can your employees take?
Here are ways business owners can optimize office space to ensure a conducive work environment for employees.
What Is the Standard Office Space Density?
At the most basic level, office space is usually defined by density, the number of employees you can physically fit into a given office. The general commercial real estate market recommends a standard of about 100 USF per employee. This space is enough to fit a chair, desk, and standard office equipment like a PC and stationery.
That is an excellent standard for balancing workstations, meeting rooms, and common areas. However, office space requirements will vary depending on your industry and each employee's role. For example, office workers may need less space than employees who handle customer service or finance.
How to Optimize Office Space for Increased Efficiency
Optimizing the office saves space, which translates into money. Note that optimizing the office in your space isn't necessarily minimizing it. Instead, it's about making sound decisions about office layout and design to ensure employees have a comfortable and functional working space.
Here are some strategies for optimizing your space:
Plan Diligently
Diligently planning the office layout before construction or renovation is imperative to maximizing office space; this includes thinking about where office equipment, furniture, and supplies will be located and how employees will move within the office. In addition, an office layout that prioritizes movement between workstations and meeting spaces can increase employee productivity and satisfaction in a very tangible way.
Engage Employees and Get Feedback
Office space has an immense impact on employee satisfaction and productivity. That's why engaging employees in the office planning process and getting their feedback on office design and function is essential. So what will help you determine what works best for your office culture and workforce?
Try Space Utilization Software
In today's world of big data, office space utilization software can be a powerful tool for optimizing office space. This type of software uses sensors and other technology to monitor office usage in real-time, giving valuable insights into how employees use office space. With this information, you can make better-informed decisions about office design and renovation.
Software like Skedda, Robin, and Kadence are great examples of office utilization software. Make sure your IT department is well-equipped to use the software.
Plan for the Future
Finally, keeping the future in mind when optimizing office space is essential. This means considering what your office might look like in 5-10 years and planning accordingly. For example, invest in office equipment that can adapt as office needs change over time. Also, look at your company's growth projections and future job openings in your company.
Office Space Cheat Sheet
According to ShareSpace, below is the simplest way to share out space in your business:
Open space (dense): 70 USF
Open space (standard density): 100 USF
Small meeting room (2-4 people): 100 USF
Large meeting room (4-8 people): 150 USF
Board room (15-20 people): 220 USF
Training/conference room (20-30 people): 300 USF
Kitchenette: 100 USF
Manager's office: 100 USF
Senior manager's office: 200 USF
Director's office: 250 USF
Adequate Office Space For a Productive Workforce
Office space plays a critical role in employee productivity and satisfaction. To ensure that your office provides ample space for employees to do their best work, planning carefully and engaging your employees in the office planning process is essential. At Sentinel Dubai, we are dedicated to helping you set up and efficiently run your business. Contact us today to learn more about establishing a business in the Middle East.