Seating preference analysis for hybrid workplaces

ABSTRACT

Due to the increasing nature of flexible work and the recent requirements from COVID-19 restrictions, workplaces are becoming more hybrid (i.e. allowing workers to work between traditional office spaces and elsewhere including from home). Since workplaces are different in design, layout and available facilities, many workers find it difficult to adjust accordingly. Eventually, this impacts negatively towards work productivity and other related parameters including concentration, stress, and mood while at work. One of the key factors that causes this negative work experience is directly linked to the available seating arrangements. In this paper, we conduct an analysis to understand various seating preferences of 37 workers with varying demographics, using the data collected pre-COVID-19, and analyse the findings in the context of hybrid workplace settings. We also discuss a list of implications illustrating how our findings can be adapted across wider hybrid work settings.

Keywords

Hybrid workplace, seating preference, work from home, work productivity

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/S

Mohammad Saiedur Rahaman
RMIT University
saiedur.rahaman@rmit.edu.au

Mohammad Saiedur Rahaman received his PhD. degree from School of Science (Computer Science & IT), RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Currently, he is with the same school at RMIT University. Dr. Rahaman served as a co-chair of IEEE PerAwareCity 2020 and TPC member of PerCom Industry Track 2020. His current research interests include IoT, machine learning, spatio-temporal pattern mining, and context recognition in pervasive environments.

Shaw Kudo
Arup
shaw.kudo@arup.com

Tim Rawling
Arup
tim.rawling@arup.com

Yongli Ren
RMIT University
yongli.ren@rmit.edu.au

Flora D. Salim
RMIT University
flora.salim@rmit.edu.au

New Future of Work 2020, August 3–5, 2020
© 2020 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).