5 Things Your Office Hasn’t Got (and Doesn’t Need)

Some office furniture is essential, some can help you do a better job; others are just plain bonkers.

At Panel Warehouse, we manufacture office screens and display boards for offices all over the UK. We know what they need to get the job done, but sometimes companies go over and above the call of duty, creating less a workplace than a childlike wonderland.

That’s why we’re counting down some of our favourite things that your office probably hasn’t got and, despite how fun they look, doesn’t actually need.

1.    Slide

The slide found at Google’s Zurich offices

If there’s one thing that Google Employees dislike, it isn’t Bing or Yahoo: it’s stairs. At least that’s the conclusion we’ve drawn considering how many Google offices have slides beside their stairwells.

Our favourite has to be Google Zurich: a full spiral which drops you right by the café. Certainly looks like fun. Not so great for going back up, though.

2.    Basketball Court

Jack Morton employees can blow off steam with a quick shoot-around on the office basketball court.

We’ve all been in meetings we thought would never end. The guys at Jack Morton may not have that problem. Their conference room features a basketball court, complete with hoop, and lockers.

It could make you more willing to sit in a meeting where a decision can’t be reached. Just hope that your ideas don’t see you relegated to the substitutes bench.

3.    Facebook Wall

Facebook doesn’t just have walls for writing on via the website, they also have the same in their offices

If you’ve ever written on your office wall, the chances are you were reprimanded for it. But not the guys at Facebook: they’re encouraged to do it.

The Facebook Wall, at Facebook HQ in Silicon Valley, is literally bursting with scribbles and signatures. Only a very small section of clear white wall remains and you’ll need a ladder to reach it.

4.    American Diner

Adams & Knight employees get to enjoy lunch in their own authentic 50’s diner, complete with jukebox!

Most of wait until we get out of work before we head to our favourite eateries but if you work at Adams & Knight, the chances are you’re already there.

The marketing agency has its very own American fifties-themed diner, complete with jukebox and vintage coke machine. Not a bad way to spend a lunch break.

5.    Nap Room

Google Zurich also makes sure employees are well rested with dedicated nap rooms.

We’re back at Google Zurich for number 5, where staff can get away from their desks for a possibly not-so-very-well deserved nap.

The nap area is a dimly lit haven full of aquariums, loungers and even a bathtub. Of course, the bathtub is filled with foam, rather than water, and you don’t need to strip before meditating or getting a massage.

Meanwhile, with affordable price tags and lots of options, large and small offices in the UK can benefit from office screens and room dividers; which can help to organise the workspace and improve productivity.

Office screens can be used to create private, partitioned workspaces, allowing staff to work to their optimum; and if they really need to, the added privacy could even help them to catch forty winks on break.

Author: Lewis Moulds