1) Google (Googleplex): California…

You can’t mention cool places to work at and not mention Google. The big G has been in the top best companies to work for for a good number of years — and, after seeing the pictures below of their main quarters in Mountain View, California, who can argue with that? (try – but you won’t win).

It’s really a case of ‘home is where the office is’. Far from an office in the traditional sense, Google’s main quarters is more like a totally uber-cool college campus where you just happen to get paid really well too.

There’s gourmet food (in no less than 11 cafeterias), a doctor on site, laundry facilities, sleeping pods, pool tables, lapping pools.

Google Cali doesn’t scrimp on the parental perks either – includes: adoption assistance of up to $5000 — and $500 towards take-away meals for parents of a new born – over the first couple of months they’re at home with their little one. Can someone say fairy godmother?

Aaaah, this is the life.

I so want one of those …whatever it is.

They let you bring your dog too?

And England win the World Cup!

Google, you neeeed me.

Space. The final frontier.

(img credit: google.com)

2) Google, Zurich…

Nothing can match Google’s main quarters, but its branch in Zurich is pretty damn impressive. Five floors. Five different themes of cool. Meetings are held in vibrantly-coloured pods (real igloos formerly used in Antarctic expeditions), staff can take some serious timeout in serene water lounges…

…and the piers de resistance is a fireman’s pole that gets staff from one floor to the next. What could be cooler than that? (hmm…a magic carpet???)

If Google won’t go to the Alps, the Alps will come to Google. Simple as that.

A fireman’s pole? Right. Where do I sign?

Conferences in igloos? Should come as no surprise, really. We are talking Google, after all.

Find your inner Mister Miyagi in the water lounge. No snoring, though.

Gives ‘work-life balance’ a whole new meaning.

3) White Mountain Office, Stockholm…

I’m not taking away from the super duper coolness of this ‘office’, because it’s certainly awe-inspiring. Yes indeedy. But doesn’t it remind you of a chemical plant in a James Bond film?

Not too far off though – at 100 feet below the streets of Stockholm, it used to be a nuclear shelter. In 2008, it was transformed into the amazing office you now see; home to Bahnhof AB: an internet service provider.

“Veeve been expecting you, Mr Bond”.

(img credit: theroxor.com)

4) Selgas Cano Architectural Firm, Spain…

This is way too cool. Google, you’re losing me.

How could anyone get complacent about coming to a place like THAT for work? Must be an incredible experience.

The glass windows down the length of the side of the office have the desired effect – you literally feel as if you’re part of nature.

David Attenborough would be proud. So, so proud. You could try doing a Dr Doolittle impression with the wildlife, teach the bears how to use a laptop and encourage the bees to squeeze their honey directly into your tea.

Doesn’t it get a tad creepy at night with all that window — with bright beady eyes staring at you from the outside?

Part of the building is apparently underground. Maybe that’s where the toilet is…because I don’t see it. Unless you’re expected to answer the call of nature amongst the bushes — literally.

(img credit: iwan.com)

5) CheBanca!, Milan…

You wouldn’t guess it by looking at it, but believe it or not, this …is a bank. No, really. It is.

The word ‘CheBanca!’ means ‘What a bank!’ and what a bank it is. The exclamation mark isn’t a typo, by the way. Plush, unique, unusual, spatial, magnetic, futuristic, you probably get as many tourists passing through as you do account holders.

The fact that it’s in Milan serves to add that extra layer of cool.

6) TBWA\Hakuhodo, Japan…

Whereas Selgas Cano went out to nature, TBWA Hakuhodo brought theirs right in. The trees, grass and bamboo flooring look lush and authentic. Their own little Garden of Eden. Simple, but quite powerful design. It’s got that whole calming thing going on.

That’s my spot right there.

p.s. they have a VERY cool website. Make sure you have your speakers on.

(img credit: theroxor.com)

7) Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Slovenia…

The huge structure snaking through the space is pretty damn awe-inspiring, almost as if it’s challenging you to question its sheer magnitude and ability to co-exist with other visual embellishments in the space.

This is just the photo. Imagine being there in person.

The plants accentuate the space and look as if they tame the structure’s boisterousness.

And the windows look great too – part of the space without dominating it.

(img credit: theroxor.com)

8) RedBull, London…

Redbull’s office is so smooth, it’s ‘smoove’. Very slick, sharp, minimal design.

…and then it’s cheekily disrupted by the audacity of a slide that takes you from one floor to the other. That’s just…just…irresistibly playful. Looks like a whole ton of fun. I’d love to try walking back up it just for the hell of it!

Good morning, super cool RedBull reception. Sam speaking. How may I help you?

Game of tennis, anyone? I must warn you: I WILL win.

Clear the Clutter

No, it isn’t your job to clean your office. You have plenty to do without resorting to the all-purpose cleaner. However, many times people leave items strewn about their desk and it is unable to be properly tended to by the janitors. Give them a break and clear off all the surfaces inside your cubicle. Remember you’re responsible for how your office looks, and once the clutter has been tamed your office will feel brighter and more open.

Organisational Items

Your in- and out- boxes, utensil holders, business card holders, and any other items that reside on your desk may be in need of an upgrade. Do they look dingy? A trip to an office supply store can yield items in a bright colour. Don’t spend a fortune or break your budget, but a little can go a long way to making the office a nicer place to inhabit.

Add Bright Colours

Continuing with bright colours, find some art to put on the wall. This might just be placing construction paper over the cubicle walls, but the color will lift your spirits. Add an area rug if you prefer. If you have your own office and your company doesn’t mind, try painting the walls. Just be sure you do it on a weekend or outside company hours. No one will thank you for sharing the fumes or using valuable work time.

Green Plant

A green plant adds a touch of the outdoors. Bring a plant in a pot to work helps reduce stress and increases productivity. They can be placed to reduce noise between cubicles, and improve attitudes for employees. It’s best to bring a green plant and not a flowering one for the health of your coworkers in case they have allergies.

Reflect the Light

Add something light to reflect light to your space. It can be a mirror, a water fountain or aquarium, or even a crystal dish with a bonus of candy for your coworkers. This type of addition to your workplace will chase away some of those wintry shadows and the blah moods with it.

While you don’t want to get too carried away redoing your office space, a few minutes spent doing even one of these will give you a new outlook.

Typewriter to PC

You traded in your typewriter for a computer, which was then upgraded a few times because it was obsolete the moment it was installed. At least there are games to play during the lunch break.

Fax to Email (and e-faxing)

With this change, we have replaced faxes with email and shortened the time to do just about everything. It’s also created the great impatience with having everything happen right now. That’s a large change that everyone notices, and here’s the differences in the things you may have missed due to the eyestrain.

From Open Spaces to Cubicles and Back Again

Cubicles were coming into vogue. The move from a large communal space like a secretarial pool changed into small personal spaces. Now, many forward-acting companies are moving away from them. The new office space looks more like a coffee house, with no space designated to a specific person and technology has granted the ability to work elsewhere, like from home.

Evolution of the Office Chair

The office chair went from having four casters to five. There are still five today, giving greater stability than the old models. Other improvements include ergonomic developments for comfort during long hours. The materials are moving toward foam and temperature controlling fabric. The back is higher and most models have arm rests. Each piece is adjustable to give the maximum number of users a satisfying experience.

From Chunky, Heavy Work Desk to the Practical, Slimline Workspace

Desks now come standard with holes to let your wires disappear. Many workers no longer have many large wooden desks with drawers, using instead work tables that allow more flexibility with respect to height adjustment and placement of tools.

From File to Dial
Instead of a rolodex, pagers and rotary dial phone, the everyday office worker now has touch tone phones and many have mobile phones, iPhones/Androids, PDAs, or other technological gadgetry to keep them connected when they’re not at their desks.

Many of these changes occurred because of advances in ergonomics and human factors. Professionals from these fields have made their niche reducing workplace injuries and improving health. As they learn more about how to work smarter, the workplace environment will continue to change to suit people better.

The Computer

Necessary for most of today’s business, where would your desk be without this most important tool? If you have a desktop rather than a portable version, this will be a permanent space dedicated to your monitor.

Writing Implements

Somehow no one can get away with having a pen or pencil handy for scribbling notes during calls, meetings, or when someone drops by. The paperless office may be one of the big ideas for the future, but most people find it less than convenient to use a computer notepad program for messages. Make sure these are of the variety you don’t mind wandering away.

Paper

Generally this takes the form of post-its, but any small notebook or pad will do. Even a spare piece from the printer works, but for space considerations and aesthetic appeal smaller is better.

Phone

A company issued mobile phone (not usually your own personal phone!) or a desk phone should always be handy for customers to call.

Photos

You don’t need to cover your workspace with photos. One or two is plenty. They should show a stable person who is dependable, like a picture of a spouse or of children you are close to. However, this is dependent upon your work environment. You may choose to keep your personal life separate. It’s completely up to you to judge the appropriateness of this one.

Business Cards

This is a must. Clients who need to contact you can grab one at will. They can even double as extra paper if you run out, but don’t put them back in the stack after you use them for notes. You might lose something important or share something you shouldn’t.

Tape, Scissors, Hole-Punch, Binder Clips, and Other “Desk Accessories”

Evaluate exactly how often you use them. If you use them multiple times per day, it may be useful to have the item out. If not, stick them neatly inside a desk drawer so you know where they are and have them handy.

Clock

This essential will tell you the time, even though you could look at your computer or phone, and make certain you are respectful of appointments.
What not to have:
Stacks of Papers

Disorganised papers make you seem less capable, even if you know exactly what’s in the piles. Put them away!

Other Personal Items

You may have sports memorabilia or other hobby items on your desk, give them serious thought before bringing them into your workspace. Sports stuff is best when cheering on the home team with home referring to the town where you reside and work.

Reading material may be okay if you have time during a lunch break, but consider leaving that in a desk drawer, too, especially if it’s considered a lower-level novel or tabloid instead of the newspaper.

1. Recycle

It’s simple, effective, and we’ve all known about this for years. Rather than throwing your bottles, paper, and cans in the rubbish, throw them into a recycling bin. Nearly every city in the country has a recycling system that is just as convenient as the trash system, and you can arrange for them to pick it up from your office in much the same way. The only drawback is that in most places they require that you separate papers, plastics, and aluminums, but by just placing three clearly labelled bins next to each other, you can do your sorting instantly.

2. Turn the lights off in unoccupied rooms

Conference rooms, bathrooms, offices — just remember to flip the switch off on your way out. You can also install motion sensors on the light switches so that they’ll turn off automatically, though these can be inconsistent and certainly more costly than turning the switch off by hand.

3. Do away with paper, plastic, and styrofoam plates, cups, and utensils

By simply stocking your office with ceramic dishes, you can save money and the environment. Styrofoam isn’t even biodegradable, let alone recyclable, and paper plates and cups can add huge costs to your budget over the year, not to mention produce an amazing amount of waste. Besides, why drink coffee from a styrofoam cup when you can drink it from your World’s Greatest Boss Mug?

4. Stop drinking bottled water

Though you might lose the sense of personal ownership that comes with having a bottle filled with filtered water, the need is urgent. Recent reports show that the amount of plastic waste generated every year in the UK is estimated to be about 3 million tonnes, with 56% of that being from from packaging, and three-quarters is from households. Any reduce in that amount of waste would do wonders for the environment.

5. Use e-mail whenever possible

Thanks to the information age, we’re able to share ideas with each other without the use of paper. Take advantage of this. And if you’re a fan of printing out your e-mails for posterity, be sure to filter out your unwanted e-mails on the computer first.

6. Encourage working from home or energy-reducing travel

Fuel shortages have become an ever growing concern and by working from home, the UK could save millions litres of petrol every year. The UK’s Energy Saving Trust As fuel prices go up, this could not only help the environment, but help cut costs, especially once workers begin to demand fuel reimbursement be built into their salaries.  If it’s impossible to work from home, encourage energy-saving travel methods like public transport, where necessary, such as buses. A more environmentally friendly option, double-decker buses can carry the same amount of people as 40 cars! They’re also up to seven times safer.

Though we never want to go back to shirts and ties or skirts, hosiery, and pumps on a daily basis, we also need to keep a professional look in our attire at the office. If you keep away from the office attire “no-no’s” we will discuss in this post you will probably wear the correct casual and professional dress.

Take the Emphasis Off “Casual”

The biggest faux pas in office casual wear is our emphasis on the word “casual” and the de-emphasizing of the word “office”. Most casual clothing is not suitable to be worn in the office. Tee shirts, sweats, shorts, jeans, leggings, and tennis shoes are good things to wear around the house or at the mall, but they reflect an unprofessional attitude when worn in the office.

Tips for Women

Women should not wear revealing clothing. It is not appropriate to expose your cleavage, stomach, back, underwear, or feet in the office. Anything short or too tight is also wrong for the office. If you want to be taken seriously, don’t “undress” at the office.

Any open toe shoe such as sandals, flip flops, or thongs should not be worn in the office. It is fine to eliminate hosiery during the summer months.

Make up should be worn in moderation as well as any colognes and perfumes.

Large, chunky costume jewelry does not look good with office casual attire and can be very distracting to the wearer and fellow office workers. Body piercings other than pierced ears are too extreme in the office.

Tips for Men

Wrinkled, torn, or dirty clothing is always unacceptable. Clothing with pictures, words, or symbols are not appropriate office attire even on dress down days while brand names, university and sports team garments are fine on declared dress down days. Pressed jeans minus holes and tears are a welcome change on dress down days.

Hats are not to be worn in the office. However, head coverings that are worn because of religious beliefs or ethnic tradition are suitable.

Why not decide to wear a shirt, tie, and jacket to the office wear one day a week? It will make a difference in your attitude and productivity.

Make a Hot File to Sort Priorities

Begin by creating a “Hot File” and positioning it within easy reach on your desktop. Use this file to hold your most pressing project details, proposals, or other important information. Try to keep it small – everything on your desk can not be classified as “A Priority” for this method to be effective. Purchase a monthly file sorter to store your remaining, pending papers. Use this to contain all upcoming events, projects, invoices, and more by the month.

This practice will avoid messy, unorganised stacks of paperwork that pile up on most desks by the year’s end. At the beginning of each month, simply review the filed documents in your pending folder and deal with them accordingly.

Set up a Bulletin Board to Keep You Updated

Another useful tool to consider is a large bulletin board. It’s great to have this close to your desk and perfect to post those urgent, last minute notes, memos, informational guides, comic strips, and other mementos. If it’s important and needs to remain in clear sight as a resource or reminder to you, then this is the best place to put it in your newly, reorganized office.

Maintain a Clear, Defined Space For Your Work

Every office space needs a clear, work surface – perfect for assembling those important memos and reports, prepping direct mails, or just holding the extras that we all come across from time to time. Consider purchasing a credenza or small work table to place behind your desk – or perhaps to the side if space is limited. Even a simple folding table can work in a pinch and you can even put it away in a closet when it’s not in use. It’s portable too, so co-workers can use it too, whenever necessary.

File Your Paperwork, Properly

Make sure you have a quality system for filing paperwork. Whether you’re lucky enough to fit the necessary files in a simple, 2- or 4-drawer cabinet, or your office requires a more sophisticated filing setup, organization is the key to storing your most important information.

Whether you rearrange your furniture, desktop, or files you’ll benefit this year and increase your productivity in the long term. So, this year, don’t forget to put some thought into rearranging your office space when drafting a list of resolutions for 2010!

Don’t overdo it at the cocktail table

This might be the first time your boss gets to see your “other side”. The last thing you want to do is cast yourself in an unprofessional light by downing too many drinks before leading the sales department through a slurred rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Don’t get caught up in the festivities and start acting like you’re back at the frat house.

Dress appropriately

Sure, it’s OK to stray from the business-casual wardrobe that outfits you day in and day out throughout the year. But you’re not going “clubbing”. Let your typical office attire be your gauge. It’s fine to lean a little less conservative, but not too far. While office parties are festive events, standard workplace behavior is expected.

Don’t try to “hook up” at your work party

If you’ve been waiting for the chance to see the “hottie” down the hall in a more social setting, remember who’s watching. Use the party as a chance to engage in mature conversation to get to know somebody a little better. But tales of the couple who were caught making out in the coat closet will do nothing to improve your standing with upper-management.

Don’t complain if your Christmas bonus was low or non-existent this year

Times are tough. Many companies are even skipping the festivities due to expenses. If you’re overheard grumbling about not getting a big, fat Christmas bonus (or, for that matter, about anything else negative toward the company) words can travel fast. Keep them to yourself and enjoy the party. Not everybody is getting one these days.

Don’t just blow it off

Your office party probably hasn’t been advertised as being mandatory, but treat it as such. Go, at least for a while. If you’ve already got a prior engagement, be sure your office manager is aware of it ahead of time. To ignore it without acknowledging it would be disrespectful.

Remember: The best rule of thumb is do not detach yourself completely from office norms that dictate your everyday behavior at work. Stay in good standing with your superiors by obeying these rules of etiquette.

The first thing to consider when choosing breakout furniture is the office’s requirements. For instance, are you looking for pieces to fit in a doctor’s office, or a restaurant? Are you looking for stools to sit at a bar, or tables and chairs to sit independently from it for employees to relax at during their breaks? The use of the furniture is the most important issue to contemplate when selecting breakout furniture items. The next point to think over is the volume of people who will use the pieces. Is the space a high-traffic, high-volume area such as a corporate canteen that will seat many people each day? If so, making sure that the pieces are durable and well constructed is very important. If the pieces will not see heavy traffic on a regular basis, perhaps something more ornate and luxuriant would best suit the environment. In addition, who will be using the furniture is an important point. If the pieces are for an employee break room only, must they match the rest of the building’s pieces, or should they have their own style? If they are to be used by employees, visitors, and potential clients regularly, is continuity in style important throughout each room in the building?

Space is the second factor to mull over when contemplating breakout furniture. It is important to utilize a room’s space to the fullest, as square footage can be at a premium in many buildings; ensuring unimpeded access to essential exit doors and routes in case of emergency is of the utmost importance, as building owners do not want these outlets blocked by furniture. When choosing breakout pieces, consider the layout of the room; is it a perfect square, or rectangular? What is the square footage that you have to work with? Do you want to utilize a bare wall, or place individual islands throughout the area? What about when no one is around? When the day is done, will the chairs need to be stackable to open up alternate space usage or ease of access for the janitorial staff? If so, stackable chairs and tables that are light enough to easily move are a must.

Once you understand the company’s utilization and space requirements, style is the next essential point to ponder. Do you want pieces that compliment your office’s décor, or ones that stand out from it? If a dentist’s office has a rustic, log cabin theme, they might not be interested in breakout furniture that features bold colors and modern designs. On the other hand, if the space has tile floors, high ceilings, and incredible amounts of sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, modern and colorful or even contemporary might be just the thing. For breakout areas that have a bar or café theme, high or low stools can be the perfect complement to circular or square traditional bar tables, as well as a bar itself, and complete a relaxing and carefree atmosphere. Another point to keep in mind with a bar or café theme is whether this setup is inside or outside; if outside, making sure that the breakout furniture pieces are weatherproofed or otherwise able to handle the elements is very important.

For those in the market for breakout furniture, remember three things: the business’ requirements, its space, and its style. Think about furniture utilization and who will use the pieces and for what, how much real estate is open, and what style will present the image the company wants. Look for pieces that will fill the company’s breakout needs, whether they are large or small, what will fit in the breakout area and what will not, and if the pieces represent the company well. Bear in mind that the furniture should be comfortable for those who will use it, not overcrowd the room it will fill, and present a hospitable picture for all that use it.

Office partitions can improve worker concentration and workplace productivity. These partitions help block out both visual and auditory distractions. Although your employees will still be able to hear the noises of the office, these noises will become less noticeable and therefore less distracting.

Office partitions also help to reduce idle chat. In order to speak with a coworker, an employee will need to either to walk into the partitioned area or speak over the partition wall. Although talk is still possible, as it should be, partitions cut down on distracting casual conversations. Because it is slightly more inconvenient to engage in conversation, employees will save their chatter for work-related topics or truly important matters. When an employee begins a personal conversation with another employee, they both suffer drops in productivity. Office partitions do not just prevent your employees from spending extra time away from their desks chatting, they also protect other employees from unwanted and disruptive conversations.

Building your workers individual work spaces can even make them feel like they own part of the environment. The privacy that cubicles provide allows workers to relax and focus on work. They will no longer worry about people walking by their desk twenty times a day, stopping each time to say hello. The office dweller with a private partition feels that his or her work space is protected. You will prevent unproductive office chat and protect productive workers from unnecessary distractions.

A well-designed office space, even one that uses partitions, does not need to feel isolating. In fact, office partitions can help build team spirit. Use office partitions to group together members of the same team. The partitions will eliminate distractions and help each member of the team get work done efficiently. The office partitions will help the group’s overall productivity. If the members of a work group need to exchange data or files routinely, their closeness will allow them to exchange information efficiently. Group members will be able to stay in their area and will be able to get necessary information without running all over the office. Grouping your members together using partitions will both cut back on office noise because there will be less movement and ensure that groups communicate effectively.

Keeping group members together also ensures that they stay accountable for their work. Because everyone is working on the same project, if one employee is slacking, everyone else in the team will know.
Communication will be improved because it is hard to dodge a question when the person who needs the answer sits right next to you. If a team member has not completed part of the project on time, the work group can encourage the unproductive employee to complete the task as quickly as possible. Because of the proximity to the rest of the team, each employee will feel extra pressure to preform.

Office partitions will make your office a quieter, more productive environment. Easily distracted employees will benefit from the reduction in noise and unnecessary chatter. Busy, productive employees will thank you for making their job a little easier. Office partitions will also improve team performance and communication. Your workplace will function better.