Activity based working

What is Activity Based Working?

Activity Based Working (ABW) gives employees a choice about how, when and where they work. In the office, that means providing a choice of work settings, each designed for a different types of task, such as workstations, collaboration areas and concentration zones. Outside the office, activity based working is facilitated by enabling technology, which allows staff to work from anywhere; from home, to a cafe or airport lounge.

The benefits of Activity Based Working are wide reaching. In capital cities such as central London, the cost of a desk per person per annum is somewhere between £12,000 and £14,000.

So reducing the number of fixed workstations can have a real impact on a company’s bottom line. And for employees, more flexibility means a better work / life balance, job satisfaction and reduced sick time.

But how do you go about creating a work environment that accommodates activity based working? What factors do you need to include in the design? Who should be involved in its implementation? What will it cost? Are there any special considerations?

To deliver activity based working, we recommend following a Discover, Define, Design and Deliver approach. By taking it step by step, and breaking everything down into easily manageable stages, not only will your journey to Activity Based Working run smoothly, you’ll also create a working environment that’s flexible and efficient and where staff can flourish.