The CEO of messaging platform Slack, Stewart Butterfield, has suggested that businesses should reconsider how employees use their time in offices, given the rise of hybrid working. Butterfield argues that the office should be a place for activities that cannot be done at home, rather than just a space for individual desk work. He acknowledges that staff will still need to bring their laptops, but suggests that businesses should “put a strong line in the sand about what the purpose is of getting together”. Slack has offices across the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and India. In retrospect, Butterfield believes that the company’s pre-pandemic allocation of 80% of floor space for “factory-farm, battery-chicken housing for people to use their desks all by themselves and listen to their headphones, and not talk to anyone else” was a mistake.

A confortable work space

Slack’s CEO, Stewart Butterfield, suggests that companies should rethink how their employees use office time, especially with the rise of hybrid working. He argues that being in the office should be an opportunity to do things that cannot be done at home, such as collaborating and building face-to-face relationships. Butterfield is renovating Slack workspaces to resemble more of a social club to create a comfortable environment for people to come together and enjoy themselves. He acknowledges that while some people prefer working full-time in the office, most knowledge workers will settle into a pattern of regular intervals of getting together. Butterfield is not a fan of meetings, and he champions Amazon’s idea of starting meetings by having attendees read a six-page memo as a briefing note. He also backs the concept of “asynchronous work,” minimising the need to share information in real-time and investing in how teams do asynchronous work, which he believes is worth a lot.

Importance of work space for employees mental health

Nowadays, working at home is more common and everyone needs to thing in a global mental health.

The workplace environment can have a significant impact on the mental health of employees. A positive work environment can promote feelings of happiness, motivation, and a sense of purpose, while a negative work environment can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Having a comfortable and inviting workspace can help employees feel more relaxed and focused, which can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction. Providing employees with natural light, comfortable furniture, and an appealing design can create a more positive atmosphere.

Additionally, allowing for breaks and providing areas for social interaction and relaxation can help to reduce stress levels and foster a sense of community and support among colleagues. Employers can also promote mental health by offering resources such as counseling services or mental health days to employees.

Creating a positive work environment that supports employees’ mental health is not only important for the well-being of individual employees but also for the success of the company as a whole. When employees are healthy and happy, they are more likely to be engaged, productive, and motivated, which can lead to increased business success and growth.