4 pros of outdoor workspaces
If you’re considering adding outdoor workspaces to your office, here are some of the benefits you have to look forward to.
1. You can accommodate more workers with less overhead
Office space can be expensive and limited. Whether you’re offering your team cubicles, offices or a combination of the two, you usually have a limited amount of space to accommodate them.
While outdoor workspaces aren’t often permanent locations for a full-time employee, they work well when you need more seating temporarily. For example, hosting brown bag lunches in an outdoor space can be accommodating for larger groups and let them take advantage of a different environment.
2. Working outdoors can improve employee performance
Research shows exposure to nature can help boost morale and productivity. The study showed that even small doses of nature, like working near a window or having plants at your desk, could improve productivity and creativity.
3. Group workstations encourage networking and collaboration
Set up outdoor workstations designed for group use. Round tables with plugs in the middle enable collaboration and sharing of resources. Picnic table-like formations with solar panels can also underscore corporate sustainability commitments and be used to power laptops and the creative process.
Without assigned seating and unintentional departmental siloing due to physical distance, people from opposite ends of the building can now sit and work together. It’s an open forum for an exchange of ideas and building camaraderie.
4. Outdoor workstations help lower stress
Stress in the workplace can lead to burnout, low wellbeing and low employee engagement. However, as little as 10 minutes outside can make people feel happier and less stressed. This could include a walk outside between meetings, a pitch session that takes place under trees or a full brainstorming session at dedicated workspace tables in a garden or patio area of the office.
2 cons of outdoor workspaces
Although outdoor offices do provide many benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider.
1. There may be privacy and security concerns
Being outside means you’re giving up soundproofed conference rooms and the quiet that comes with taking client calls behind closed doors. Because of this, outdoor workspaces can present privacy and security concerns. These can include an increased risk of data breaches due to unsecured networks and difficulty in maintaining confidentiality for sensitive work or discussions.
2. Sensory issues and employee preferences
Outdoor workspaces can present sensory issues that may be distracting or unpleasant for some employees. These issues can include exposure to environmental noise, temperature fluctuations, pollen or other allergens and bright sunlight.
Being outdoors can also expose equipment, like laptops, to weather conditions which could damage electronics and important documents.
FAQs about outdoor office spaces
What does an outdoor workspace look like?
Outdoor office spaces can take many forms, ranging from a basic table and chairs to a covered area with UV-resistant auto-tilt umbrellas, a retractable awning and all-weather seating. Some companies incorporate pod chairs, phone booth-like listening pods and swinging chairs and hammocks. Others go for sustainability by using solar panels to generate energy and working with natural boundaries, like rock walls and rows of hedges, to organize seating. Outdoor workstations can be used for a single person or accommodate large groups for lectures and collaborative endeavors.
How can I create an outdoor workspace?
Creating an outdoor workspace can be as easy as taking your computer or a pen and a pad of paper and sitting on an existing park bench or stoop. Some businesses have patio tables or a courtyard that can double as workspaces. You can also set up more dedicated outdoor workspaces by building cubicle-like structures or taking over a section of the lawn or courtyard to make a more organized office environment.
How can I make traditional workspaces more inviting?
Outdoor workspaces aren’t always practical. In areas where lack of real estate or frequent episodes of inclement weather make working outdoors less than ideal, you can make indoor workspaces more appealing by bringing the outside in. Set up some plants, allow in natural light and use accessories like an ergonomic keyboard and lumbar pillow to boost comfort.
