What Does a Successful Workplace Look Like?

Published by Algorithmic Global on November 8, 2019November 8, 2019

Posted by Sadie Lulei

The office space of any business is a crucial consideration in the productivity of the employees. In fact, some of the key considerations in forming a productive workplace overlap with how we take care of plants: lots of light, lots of fresh air, and open space to grow in. As said in Forbes, by Contributor Alan Kohll, “A quality workspace design leads to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere. It’s essential that employers take the physical work environment of their employees into consideration.” Source: forbes.com.

Office spaces have always been evolving to maximize the data we’ve found about space and productivity. When cubicles were determined to do more harm than benefit, separating employees from the possibility of collaboration, they slowly disappeared  from modern office spaces. In the same article, Kohll revealed an interesting stat, “An overwhelming majority (87%) of workers would like their current employer to offer healthier workspace benefits, with options ranging from wellness rooms, company fitness benefits, sit-stands, healthy lunch options and ergonomic seating.” What does that mean for businesses? Well the first thing to consider in integrating such factors into an office space is, what is the budget for maintaining such a space? Even a business willing to adhere to such requests from employees may find themselves stuck in the case of budget issues. Likewise, some businesses may turn down these ideas, not out of lack of respect but out of an inability to put money into office related renovations. The catch is, though, that applying a generous budget to office space refinement could directly result in an increase of employee productivity and, therefore, increase opportunity for profit.

Let’s layout three possible price points for office space use. First we’ll look at the average office space, no extra employee-based additives. Then we’ll look at an office space that does incorporate employee satisfaction benefits in it. And finally, we’ll take a look at our own company, Algorithmic Global, and how it managed the cheapest and most beneficial way of creating optimal business operations.

Average office space includes:

• Offices (~$7,500/mo)
• Snacks & Drinks (~$250/mo)
• Toiletries, like Tampons (~$250/mo)

Average Cost: $8,000/month

Modern office space includes:

• Offices (~$7,500/mo)
• Healthy Meals, Snacks, & Drinks (~$500/mo)
• Toiletries & Self Care (~$300/mo)
• Gym Equipment (~$2,000)
• Lounging Furniture (~$5,000)
• Games (~$1,500)

Average Cost: $8,300/month + $8,500 initial cost for additives

So for about one month’s rent, employee based resources can be added to the office space environment. Is that worth it? Well, considering most of the items are a one time cost, unless needing to be replaced, one could easily argue it is worth it. These extra costs prove an increase in employee productivity when given the space to refocus back on the self. Businesses that interact with their employees as individuals, allowing self care to take place even in the office space itself, have more open and honest conversations between coworkers and less turnover in employees. A company and an employee is an interpersonal relationship; it’s vital that the employee feels its company cares for them.

Now let’s take a look at Algorithmic Global’s take on office space:

There is no mandatory office space. Employees are not required to show up to a specific location at a specific time and get down to work. Instead, working is task-based. If an employee of Algorithmic Global can finish their tasks in just a few hours, the rest of the day is theirs. Why? There is no forcing quality work.

Since the 1990s, companies have learned how to pack tasks of multiple employees into one position, paying that employee a single rate value of what they’d be paid for attending to their own tasks. Most companies who approach employment like this will tack new tasks onto the work over a gradual period of time, in order to make the position appealing at first. One example would be a corporate customer service job that both the Founder and Content Director of Algorithmic Global worked at. There, as time went on, corporate would edit the roles of employees in order to have a single person doing as much work as they could without risking quality of service. From there, they’d lessen the amount of people scheduled, having the same amount of work done over fewer people. Likewise, when working for a startup business, our Digital Advertising Strategist experienced a similar increase in tasks despite no increase in pay. This is one of the ways that companies use dishonest tactics to save money, something Algorithmic Global is actively against.

That’s why we’ve allowed each employee the benefit of a free schedule. The only thing ever needed to show up to is travel; we value the ability to connect with clients on a more personal level, to film and shoot their work, to work in meetings where we collaborate on goals to increase engagement. Otherwise, everything else can be completed on personal devices, at home, at a local coffee shop, with other coworkers or alone. How is this possible? It’s simple. Trust is the foundation of this model.

While there is a large capacity for brainstorming among coworkers in a shared office space, there has yet to be a decrease in meetings in this innovative model. Employees of Algorithmic Global love meeting up, at coffee shops or one another’s homes, feeling comfortable in their space and being able to attend to anything personal in the meantime. That means doctor’s appointments, personal projects, family time, is all easily possible.

What office space works best for your business? That’s up to you and your employees and coworkers. For Algorithmic Global, trust is the foundation and innovation is the goal. Algorithmic Global is the future of digital marketing.