Offices aren’t what they used to be. And with each passing year, employers are coming up with new/fun/interesting/strange office innovations to keep the workforce stimulated and happy. Here are a few that TURNER has gotten into – and a few we haven’t. At least not yet … [Header photo: NBBJ]
Summer Fridays
These seem to be getting more popular every year. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, offices are emptying out early on Friday afternoons, as employees trade spreadsheets for sunglasses and hit the open road in search of new adventures (or a new happy hour). It’s a good deal, with everyone returning on Monday refreshed and rejuvenated thanks to those bonus weekend hours.
Does TURNER Offer Them: Yes, we do … and here are some good ideas for how to spend them.
Treehouses
The internet scratched its collective head in wonder last month when news broke that Amazon was building indoor treehouses at its new Seattle headquarters. According to the New York Times, these “high-tech greenhouses” are constructed around three “transparent, conjoined structures” called spheres. When completed, Amazon employees will “amble through tree canopies three stories off the ground, meet with colleagues in rooms with walls made from vines and eat kale Caesar salads next to an indoor creek.” In other words, this isn’t the treehouse you built in your backyard back when you were a kid.
Does TURNER Have A Treehouse: No – we’re not sure exactly sure where one would fit.
Smart Chairs
Forget the standing desk. Throw out your balance ball. Say hello to the smart office chair. The Axia® Smart Chair is designed to give you better posture – and it’s not shy about giving you suggestions. According to the website, the chairs “monitor a user’s posture and provide feedback where necessary. Sensors in the seat swabs register the posture.” If you’re sitting in a poor position, a vibration will tell you to get up and move around.”
Does TURNER Have Smart Chairs: Not yet. But do we really want our chairs ordering us around?
Game Rooms
The ultimate startup office cliché? Game rooms give employees a chance to blow off steam with video games, board games, ping pong tables, and much more. Is it just an opportunity to waste time? Could be – or it could be a team-building strategy. Nothing brings people together like a quick game of foosball, right?
Does TURNER Have A Game Room: There’s a definite shortage of games in the TURNER offices – though we do have an arty Tic-Tac-Toe thing in Denver.
Paid Volunteer Time
Giving back is great for the community and it’s great for your own mental health. But there’s not always time in our busy schedules to do the volunteering we’d like to. That’s why many companies offer paid volunteer time off, so that employees can do a little good during office hours. A win-win.
Does TURNER Offer Volunteer Time: Yep – you can check out some of our recent outings here and here.
Kegerators
Need to get the creativity flowing during a slow afternoon? Maybe you should get the tap flowing. Overindulging is a mistake – you don’t want to fall asleep at your desk. But a cold craft beer shared with your colleagues is a great perk.
Does TURNER Have a Kegerator: Absolutely – media director/beer nerd Campbell Levy built the office beer dispenser a few years back, and it’s stocked with Great Divide Brewing Co.’s best.
Tyler Wilcox
Tyler Wilcox : May 1, 2015
