Office Pod Guide: What are they, and do you need them?
An office pod is a space where employees can work quietly and productively. It promises to improve employee experience — and may even persuade home workers back into the office.
But does your office space need office pods? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons.
Imagine you’re in the office working on an important solo project.
Your company has an open office layout, where everyone works in one big communal space. You try to concentrate on the task at hand. But you can hear a nearby group of colleagues chatting about the project they’re currently working on. A hot desking colleague is clattering away, getting their workstation set up at the desk next to yours. The coffee machine is whirring away in the kitchen as someone prepares their mid-morning caffeine fix.
Phones are ringing, and notifications are pinging.
You simply cannot focus.
Some people have a superhuman ability to concentrate while the office hustles and bustles around them. But the majority of us crave peace and quiet when completing certain tasks.
The lack of available peace and quiet — particularly in an open office environment — makes it harder for us to do our best work.
So what can we do about this?
We could go back to an office of individual cubicles and closed doors. But that would mean doing away with the collaboration, innovation, and creativity benefits of an open-plan space.
A modern, hybrid office environment requires new and innovative space management ideas.
That’s why an office pod, offering an escape from the daily distractions of the office, may provide the perfect solution.
What is an office pod?
An office pod is exactly what it sounds like — a small, self-contained, moveable structure that can be placed within a larger office space.
Pods are sometimes referred to as phone booths, meeting pods, acoustic pods, or work pods. All office pods are soundproofed, so workers get the quiet they need to complete a focused task.
They’re comfortable spaces, with all the office technology you need for successful working. And they come in various configurations, with designs suited to different office activities.
For example, in the case of meeting pods, there’s enough space for a group to sit and conduct a meeting together. In contrast, a phone booth is much smaller, providing the space and facilities for an individual to make phone or video calls in private.
Office pods provide an additional workplace environment for employees to use regardless of size, shape, or configuration.
Should your office incorporate office pods?
If you like the sound of office pods but are unsure whether they’d be the right choice for your office space, take a look at these office pod pros and cons.
Benefits
Helps cut down distractions
Office distractions are a problem for both workplace productivity and employee experience. Studies show they can increase employee stress and frustration.
So it makes sense that, as reported in an Udemy survey, 34% of workers like their job less when they work in a distracting workplace.
On a more positive note, Udemy reported that when measures were put in place to reduce distractions at work:
- 75% of workers were more productive
- 57% had improved motivation
- 49% were happier at work
Office pods provide a distraction-free space for employees — and a way for workers and businesses to reap the benefits of focused work.
Provides privacy in open offices
However transparent the culture at your organization, some conversations aren’t intended for all ears. But an open office doesn’t provide the privacy you need for certain phone calls or meetings.
An office pod, however, gives you a private space to discuss sensitive topics. No more scrambling around for a quiet space to talk.
Offers workspace flexibility
One size never fits all. Different employees completing different tasks will prefer one type of office workspace over another.
With office pods, you increase the variety of workspaces available to your employees. And provide the right place for each person and task, resulting in better quality work.
Pods also help you to create flexible office space — a layout that you can easily reconfigure to suit the changing needs of a hybrid workforce.
May help to entice people back into the office
If your employees are happy with hybrid work — but you’re keen for them to come into the office more often —office pods can help you to achieve your aims.
Pods help to improve the workplace experience and environment. They make your office an appealing space to work. And they can be a particular selling point for employees who struggle with the distractions of home-based working.
Drawbacks
Cost
Adding office pods into your workspace inevitably means an upfront cost. However, there are long-term benefits that deliver a high ROI, including:
- Worker productivity
- Improved employee experience
- Talent recruitment and retention
But you do have to factor in initial costs, which can range from (according to Zenbooth office pod providers) $4,000 to $15,000 for a single smaller office pod.
Uncertainty around usage
Will employees use the office pods you choose to install? What spaces do your employees actually prefer to work in? Where should you place office pods to guarantee usage?
If you’re about to spend thousands of dollars on new office pods, you have to ensure they will provide meaningful benefits for your employees.
You can’t be certain about pod usage without space management insight.
However, if this is something you’re keen to explore, a workplace scheduling tool with usage analytics and reporting can help you plan more effectively.
Choose Smartway2 by HubStar for space management insight
Would office pods make a successful addition to your office layout?
We’re here to help! Smartway2 provides essential technology infrastructure designed to support the modern workplace and the future of work. We can help you understand how your employees currently use your office spaces, where you could improve, and if office pods would make sense for your business.
