Planning for staffing and space utilization becomes critical with the growth of organizations. You need cubicles and offices for your new hires. You want to keep proximity for employees who need to work together regularly. You need to plan for common areas and conference rooms. You want to create an environment that fosters positive spirits and employee motivation and satisfaction.
This tip about how to gain management input for people needs and space planning will give you a proven approach to try to stay one jump ahead of your company’s growth. This planning will enable you to have employee workstations when you need them.
Yet, smart planning will keep you from spending large amounts of money at an unnecessary time.
When space becomes an issue, managers tend to think "build more offices." Often, a less expensive solution is reasonable with planning and space redesign. Additionally, if asked, almost every employee will tell you that they would be more comfortable, productive and successful working without distractions in a private office. Often, the decision to use cubicles is a function of space and cost.
Key questions to ask while planning space for people. Recognize that many of the responses will be opinions, and you will need to rely on designers and builders to have definitive answers and recommendations.
• To decide whether to add-on to the current building, build up, move locations, rent space, build an office building, or redesign current space, your projected headcount for this year and next is necessary. Be sure to uphold a reasonable approach in your projecting.
Department:
Current Headcount:
Projected Headcount: Year 1 Starting Date
Projected Headcount: Year 2 Starting Date
• Of this projected headcount increase, how many employees require offices and how many require cubicles?
• Looking at your current level of staffing, do you have the appropriate housing for each employee (e.g. do you have managers without offices)?
• Looking at both current and projected employees is their access to conference rooms, lunchrooms, storage space, and restrooms appropriate? Will this change as you add new employees?
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