In business, nothing is certain. Stocks go up and down; trends come and go; businesses that seems to have everything going for them suddenly fail – essentially, there are no guarantees.

While most business owners accept that the nature of their business is inherently volatile, there are some aspects of a company that have always seemed resolute. Perhaps the most obvious of these is the concept of a designated office space, which is used as a base of operations according to a standard nine-to-five schedule. This kind of arrangement has been fundamental to businesses for decades… yet in the 21st century, all is set to change.

The problems with conventional office setups

The standard office setup comprises of the following:

• A designated work space, usually complete with desks, bathroom facilities, and occasionally a kitchen
• Employees work in this space, most usually on a nine-to-five working pattern.
• Employees attend this space to work between Monday and Friday.

The above arrangement likely sounds familiar; in fact, it is the norm, a setup that literally millions of businesses across the world stick to… and no one is entirely sure why.

One would expect that this kind of setup is standard because we know it’s effective; that it encourages productivity; that it’s genuinely beneficial to both employees and businesses. However, this simply isn’t the case – and, in fact, there is evidence that the standard setup is outright damaging.

• For example, moving to a four-day week rather than Monday-to-Friday has been proven to be more productive.
• Working in an office environment can make people miserable.
• Studies have shown that a standard nine-to-five working pattern could have significant health ramifications for employees.

The points above genuinely are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the issues posed by the standard setup.

So why does everyone use the standard office setup?

Basically, habit. There’s no other reason for this choice outside of a perception that this is how a business should operate. Business owners copy the standard working environment that they see other businesses using because it’s assumed that this arrangement is the best choice – despite the fact that the evidence says otherwise.

What are the alternatives to the standard office setup?

Thankfully, attitudes are changing, as more and more studies conclude the arrangement of office space/nine-to-five/Monday-to-Friday is far from the best choice. There are a variety of innovations currently being trialled by businesses across the world, including allowing higher levels of remote working, the use of a flexible shared workspace, and four-day working weeks. All of these changes are incredibly positive, and suggest that business culture is changing, opting for what is genuinely beneficial rather than what is familiar.

Should your business make these changes?

In a word, yes – or, at the very least, you should consider it. The arguments against the standard office setup are convincing, and the alternatives tend to produce positive results for both business productivity and the employees. The idea of abandoning your office or opting for a four-day working week may sound outlandish, but in reality, could be the dynamic change that allows you to reach new heights with your business endeavors.