Use Benching Cubicles to Boost Productivity in Orange County

Use Benching Cubicles to Boost Productivity in Orange County

The Role of the Benching Cubicle

Orange County, California is a dynamic region that’s conveniently connected to Los Angeles and San Diego. Tech offices, gaming firms, and professional innovators seek the competitive edge.  A well-planned office layout contributes to productivity and, therefore, profitability. See how benching cubicle workstations play a role.

Staying Focused

In open office layouts, benching cubicles offer individuals the chance to focus without walling off co-workers. The partitions come in different styles and help absorb sound.  Workers in the same department can stay on-target together by working alongside each other. Benching cubicles have enough flexibility to create temporary project sites where employees from different departments and skill sets can come together as needed to work on the same project.

Allowing Communication

Benching cubicles aid in office communication since the dividers are less obtrusive than solid walls. Flexibility is key and the systems can be customized to match individual personalities. Openness promotes organic collaboration and creates an atmosphere of people being able to approach one another.  Benching cubicles also integrate well with technology so employees can plug in easily without disturbing those around them.

Aligning Teams with the Benching Cubicle

The cubicles with adjustable partitions make it easy to bring teams together from either the same department or leverage different skill sets to tackle one main project. Creative solutions can flow more readily than if workers were isolated.

Cubicles styles are also available to match the different functions of a company’s teams. An administrative team of a few people may find the Accelerate Workstation by Hon to be useful.  A sales team making calls or having prospective clients stop in may prefer the EO+ Workstation by Global or the Initiate Workstation by Hon.

Supporting a Brand

The clean look and space optimization that benching cubicles provide reflect well on the brand for employees, clients and vendors. The elements of look, function and style combine to create a workplace that has a high quality and attracts the talent a company needs to succeed.  All in all, a well-planned office environment that’s attractive shows that the employees are worth investing in and that they’re being supported.

Image Source: HON Open Spaces

Use Benching Cubicles for Increased Collaboration in Los Angeles

Use Benching Cubicles for Increased Collaboration in Los Angeles

A Closer Look

The open office layout came about in part when tech firms had to boot-strap until investors stepped in, concepts were proven and investors funded the operations. In Los Angeles, established corporations along with start-ups and university departments have open office layouts but use systems like benching cubicles to differentiate departments.  Take a closer look at the benefits of the system and what benching cubicles offer to users.

Benching for All Team Players

Benching cubicles work well for managers overseeing a department or cluster of workers and for the team members themselves. Several stations can be configured together to accommodate a couple of people or several can easily be fit and arranged to seat an entire department.  Cubicles originally gave an almost claustrophobic feeling to employees but today’s choices like the Interra Cubicle by Friant allow for a more open, conversing atmosphere.

Benching for Efficient Communication

Benching cubicles have dividers that don’t get in the way like solid walls. Approaching co-workers or managers is easier than in a closed office. Personal interaction becomes organic and for electronic communication, it’s easy to plug in since the cubicles integrate well with technology.  The Accelerate Workstation by Hon is a good example of a system that shows clear boundaries for personal workspace while making the office accessible.

Benching for Department Identity

Form and function both come into play when choosing benching cubicles for an office. A finance department can have a completely different set up than a marketing team while a production group may want something even more unique.  The Crossroads Workstation by ODS has one style that can work for more numbers crunching and data entry compared to the Initiate Workstation by Hon that has a more traditional use of personal space.  Planning an office space well requires thinking through work functions and departmental relationships. It can’t be an afterthought. An office that designs work areas that truly support the workers has an easier time of attracting top talent than companies who simply fit desks together.

Whether refreshing an existing office or setting up a new office entirely, consider how benching cubicles, compared to desks and workstations, impact office flow and sharing information.

Use Benching Workstations to Maximize Workplace Efficiencies

Use Benching Workstations to Maximize Workplace Efficiencies

The Benefit of Benching Workstations

Nonprofits in Orange County hit double digit growth in 2018, according to the OC Business Journal. Employment last year rose 1.4% among the Southern California county’s largest employers, including Disneyland.  Managing growth means keeping the office efficient and productivity high. See how benching workstations benefit growing companies in Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire.

Add Staff Easily with Benching Workstations

Hiring additional personnel without laying off anyone is a sign that a company is doing well. Challenges exist. Bringing in people can disrupt an established flow of communication and personalities if it’s not done carefully and with advance planning.  That’s why benching workstations are a smart tool. Setting them up and configuring them to accommodate more or fewer worker can be done with very little cost of labor.  The Synapse Open Plan Benchingis an example of a straight forward, economical approach to benching workstations. Several employees have plenty of room with storage creating a boundary between each person.  The Teamworx Open Plan Desking system is more creative and keeps employee productivity high while using a minimum of floor space.

Configure Floor Plans Simply

Changing employee arrangements doesn’t mean people have to rotate from one preferred and coveted office into something less desirable. Benching workstations are great for offices and companies that operate more with a more “flat” organizational chart versus one that’s hierarchical.  Departments don’t need to be walled off from each other. Benching plan workstations can be arranged according to individual or departmental responsibilities.  A well-thought out floor plan in an open office can accommodate outside clients and visitors as well as staff. Create a comfortable meeting area with lounge chairs and custom tables that are set off from the rest of the office space by using indoor plants and a counter with available coffee and snacks.

Create an Atmosphere for Collaboration

Rather than walling off employees from each other, benching workstations can increase collaboration. Put a marketing team together in one set of workstations like the E5 Open Plan Benching by Mayline. The engineering team or graphic designer team can use a style that fits their needs and workflow.  Even in open office settings, the floor plan and departmental areas can be set apart by individual lounge chairs, meeting pods or office plants. Set aside quiet areas for those who want a break and refresh.  Set aside a separate area with training tables or conference style tables for larger group gatherings.

Tips for Styling the Office Workspace in Orange County

Tips for Styling the Office Workspace in Orange County

Putting Together an Office Plan

Growing companies in Orange County should consider how the layout of an office reflects on the company’s brand. A sleek layout that’s efficient and clean can boost morale and productivity. Tech firms gaming start-ups in Irvine and real estate brands headquartered in the OC can budget wisely and create an office plan and space design that brings decision-makers and talent together.

The Executive Area

Collaboration is a key to an office functioning effectively and a good flow of communication starts with the executive team. High level strategy includes analyzing financial data, knowing changes in the marketplace and the talent needed to round out the existing team.  Having a place to discuss is critical. Executive office desks can lend themselves to an atmosphere where it’s easy to access the CEO. No one has to hide behind walls.  Consider the Verde Collection of desks by Cherryman. It can have a minimalist appeal while Cherryman’s Amber Desk design fits well for open offices, providing plenty of room for sharing ideas while keeping personal space defined.  An executive space doesn’t need layers of drywall to stand apart from everyone else. Style and use of space set the boundaries while inviting communication.

The Office Floor

Open plan cubicles are a good way to create boundaries while allowing a flow of information.  A solution like the Accelerate Workstation by Hon provides flexibility, a place to focus and the openness to share. The Crossroads Workstation by ODS combines a classic cubicle with today’s technology and includes room for personal and work filing and storage.  Cubicles are flexible to accommodate growth and change so companies aren’t locked in to physical walls or bulky desks and furniture. Clean lines create order and give a look of stability.  In a corporation with larger floor space, departments can have their own set and style of cubicles. In a smaller firm like a small business or a start-up, cubicles can function for a work area and modular furniture can allow for a specified meeting place.

Image Source: Global Lufton

Office Design Layout Best Practices

Office Design and Layout Best Practices

Setting up an office or re-designing an existing office design layout that creates efficiencies on the job and provides a welcoming atmosphere takes an understanding of corporate needs and individual behaviors. Here are the best practice principles that companies throughout Southern California can use to lay out an office.

What is the Purpose of Your Office?

Knowing the purpose of the workplace may seem obvious. Work has to get done, clients and customers serviced, and payroll met. The reason those functions exist is to support a company’s vision and mission.

A vision statement shows what a company aspires to become while a mission statement reveals how the organization carries out its daily tasks. Plan and design an office design layout that supports current work while allowing flexible options for future change.  A production company near downtown Los Angeles may plan to roll out a series that inspires residents of different races to work together in their communities, while an accounting firm in Glendale wants to be known as setting the highest possible standard of integrity.  Having a clear vision and mission statement and then making sure every employee understands why they come to work each day to a space that’s well-organized provides a competitive advantage. This boosts morale and creates a motivated workforce.

Now let’s dig deeper.

What is an Office Space?

Today’s digital world makes working remotely possible in many professional industries. But the work begins with a specific location. An office serves as a central hub of identity and communications for employees, vendors and clients.

A good example of identity is in today’s university systems. As you drive through Los Angeles, Orange Counties and the Inland Empire, you’ll notice signs for branch campuses of many different colleges and universities.  Although higher education is decentralized, the core values and mission come from a central location.  A franchise is also a good example of a central office with standards and values that’s replicated through like-minded locations.  One obvious way an office can form a clear identity is through its design and set up.

How Do Employees Use the Office?

Employees in different industries are going to use offices in their own unique ways. Knowing their needs becomes critical in creating an office design layout that serves everyone’s purpose.

For CPAs in an accounting firm who may want or need their individual space to focus and talk to clients, executive desks may be the best option. For marketing firms with designers, writers, and other creative professionals who have to come together to brainstorm and then complete their work, shared desks and workstations can work well.  Real estate brokerages have agents who are primarily out with buyers and sellers, but need an office space to copy papers, consult with their clients and sign contracts.  Know who’s in, who’s out and what percentage of time the space is needed. Understanding this will help you choose the workstations and private desks that fit your office needs.

Do Clients Use the Office?

Professional firms vary widely in how clients use an office. Small web design firms may go out 90% of the time to see clients while clinics and law firms will often have clients or possible new clients stop in.  Every office should have a multi-use space that can be comfortable for people stopping in and gatherings for staff. It can be a functional space for meetings and trainings and act as a marketing tool that convinces potential clients to do business with your company instead of a competitor.  Use a reception desk and guest chairs that invite someone to step in and sense a connection.

Office Atmosphere

Included in a well-planned office are the elements that contribute to the overall atmosphere like lighting, temperature and personal effects. Maximize Southern California’s abundant sunshine, use smart controls for energy efficiency, and create an area or defined zones for people to pull back from deadlines and the crush of work to be quiet and get refreshed.

Image Source: Friant

Easy Guide to Calculating Space for Best Office Layout

Easy Guide to Calculating Space for Best Office Layout

Trying to calculate how much space you need for your office layout is no easy task. Industry guidelines state that an office should have about 250 square feet per employee, but the amount of space that’s really needed can vary widely.  Let’s look at the basics below and assess the variables to measure.

Consider the Number of People

Determine how many people are impacted and their needs.  Individuals play different roles. How many are admin, sales, or in a technical capacity like engineering? A nonprofit organization will have admin and those designated to carry out the program.  List the number who need private offices and individual desks and how many will share workstations.  Also, decide if the number of people that will be working today will stay about the same for the near future and then decide if growth will be likely or if fewer people, especially in the case of freelance or temporary help.

Measure the Room and Open Space Sizes for Layout Planning

If existing rooms are permanent, then you can measure the available open space and how much room each department may need.  In a large open space, temporary rooms can easily be constructed using architectural walls and work spaces designated with today’s flexible cubicle systems.

Decide on Storage Space and Use

Storage can be done in a layered fashion. A designated central area, departmental storage with filing cabinets and personal storage at workstations and private offices are all options.  It’s easy to amass clutter so make sure that what’s needing stored has a lasting purpose. Just like people moving in or out, storage needs can change.

List Out the Overall Facilities

The space you need and have available is unique to you. There are variables that will certainly impact the footage needed for your optimal office layout.  Make sure to consider space and furnishings for:

  • Reception area – how much space do you need for a reception desk and guest chairs
  • Computer room to house servers and other related equipment
  • Break room – refrigerator, sink, cups, plates and table
  • Copy area and designated work area that salespeople may need to assemble collateral
  • Training area – will space be set aside for a designated training area?
  • Restrooms
  • First Aid and Emergency supplies – usually kept in a break room and restrooms for smaller companies

Have fun and be creative, and just make sure to plan your existing office space as effective as possible!

Read Also: Designing Your Office Space From Top-Down to Bottom-Up
Main Photo: Groupe Lacasse Upswing Chair
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Groupe Lacasse