At our Aeris "Future of Work" event, part of Munich Business Week 2024, we had the pleasure of participating in an exciting panel discussion with our speakers Benjamin Rolff, an expert in healthy leadership, and architect Martina Rahmfeld and interior designer Natascha Ninic. That evening, the panel intensely explored the topic of New Work and the role of the office.
For those who unfortunately couldn't attend our event or would like to delve deeper into the New Work topic: In his interview podcast "Leading Well," Benjamin Rolff talks with people who advocate for a healthy and sustainable work environment. To revisit and deepen the topics of the panel discussion, he has now brought the two experts, Martina Rahmfeld and Natascha Ninic, back to the microphone. In the latest episode (#120) from July 3, 2024, the future of work, and especially the future of the office in the "New Work" concept, will be extensively discussed once again, and the question of human-centered work environments will be revisited.
Listen to the podcast here:
The world of work has changed drastically in recent years. Particularly due to the Corona pandemic, home office and hybrid work have become established. But what does the future of the office look like, and what role does it play in a modern, human-centered work environment? These and other questions were discussed in Benjamin Rolff's "Leading Well" podcast with architect Martina Rahmfeld and entrepreneur and interior designer Natascha Ninic.
The Importance of the Office for Leaders and Employees
Since the Corona pandemic and the associated shift to home office, the concept of New Work, in terms of flexible and hybrid work models, has gained significant importance. Many companies are now demanding the return of their employees to the office in the hope of better results and more effective collaboration. However, without sound reasoning, the "back to office" mentality on the part of the employer is often perceived as control by many employees, which further diminishes the attractiveness of the office.
The Role of the Office in the New Work Concept: More Than Just a Workplace
The main goal is to create meaning and understanding of the added value the office can offer. This includes, for example, direct exchange with colleagues as well as workplaces and areas that cannot be replicated in a home office. In terms of design, ergonomic office equipment, for example, can provide precisely this added value, so that employees once again perceive the office as an attractive place to work and, if necessary, prefer it to the home office.
New Work should empower people
According to Martina Rahmfeld, New Work should essentially be "work that strengthens people." The office can contribute as a concrete factor to creating an attractive work environment and strengthening corporate culture. The design begins with defining specific corporate values and goals and finding suitable employees who can identify with these values. By investing in ergonomic office furniture, an environment is created for employees where their health and needs are valued. Healthy and satisfied employees are more motivated and can identify more strongly with the company, which ultimately leads to higher employee retention and a positive corporate culture. A healthy and happy employee is a productive employee. With Aeris' ergonomic office solutions, whether in the office or home office, the body stays in motion, creativity is at its peak, and motivation is unbridled.
The 5 different work types
According to Natascha Ninic, it is important to identify the different work types within a team and recognize which work environments they need to be able to work optimally. This may result in individual workspaces. There is simply no "one size fits all." Here are the five work types:
- The Quiet Fox - Working style: focused and analytical, prefers a quiet work environment
- The Team Bee - Working style: collaborative, prefers open workspaces/areas
- The Traveling Hare - Working style: mobile
- The Songbird - Working style: communicative, requires appropriate technology
- The Chameleon - adapts to various work environments
The Future of Work: An Outlook
The design of the future world of work requires a rethinking in the use and conception of offices. Martina Rahmfeld and Natascha Ninic agree that offices in the future must be more than just workplaces. They must be flexible and adaptable to the needs of employees. Only in this way can they become places that not only enable productive work but also foster culture and innovation. The right framework conditions and a clear vision are crucial to transform offices into power places that strengthen people and support corporate culture.
With Aeris, not only is the workplace designed, but health and well-being are also promoted. Whether it's the ergonomic home office with the Aeris Active Office, the Aeris Swopper and the Aeris Muvmat or the perfectly equipped office workplace – Aeris keeps the body in motion, effortlessly, but with maximum effect.
An ergonomic home office allows you to work literally mobile and flexibly.
