Third Space in the Workplace
A third space is exactly what it sounds like – a third space. It acts as a space in between a worker’s home and office. And its purpose is similar to that of a coffee shop or hotel lobby. Not only does it provide a change of scenery, but also, it’s a welcoming place where people can meet, work, or unwind – independently or in collaboration. Or they can simply stop by at odd hours and recharge their batteries with Wi-Fi and a hot drink.
Why You Should Have One
Additional space helps to manage the needs of the changing work force. It can accommodate for the workspace design expectations across generations, from cubicles to standing desks to nap pods – the possibilities are endless. Furthermore, a third space can be a place of refuge for someone working in a busy open office. Or it can be the bustling open office that someone in a traditional workspace is looking for. With its lack of concrete design, a third space can be anything for anyone.
It can allow your workers to put in hours when your main office space is closed, either early mornings, late nights, weekends, or holidays. But that’s not to say that workers will feel obligated to work overtime with the presence of added space. This new space encourages breaks and therefore can increase productivity. Oftentimes, this additional space can include many amenities like game rooms, gyms, or kitchens, giving workers the ability to rest and restore their brain power in between getting work done.
It is also a great space to host remote workers, as well as temporary workers. This space can also be converted to serve a variety of purposes. It can be transformed into an event space, allowing you to save money when planning big events or company banquets. It can also act as added staging or storage room. With a flexible structure, it can be whatever you need it to be.
Unexpected Benefits of a Third Space
A third space can help workers harness their creative minds. Without the pressures or expectations of the office or home fogging their brains, workers can think and act freely in a third space. The neutrality of the third space can also help coworkers feel more comfortable getting to know one another, without the tension of office politics or role stereotypes getting in the way.
Employee attraction and retention is important. Additional space can draw the best talent in and encourage them to want to stay. Physical work environment matters, especially when workers are spending most of their time there. It counts to have another place to go to, to switch up the daily routine and motivate progress. Many workers of today seek to achieve a better work-life balance. This new space can help create that better work-life balance by considering for workers physical, social, and mental wellbeing in its design and functionality.
