A reporter recently asked me about creative solutions for beating the mid-winter corporate blahs, such as changes to workplace set-ups like free-range work spaces without offices and cubicles, nap rooms, and X-box lounges.
Extreme amenities like video game lounges are still fairly rare, and this is not necessarily a bad thing. Unless you work in a design firm (for example) where a foosball machine is an expected accessory of the culture, these types of offerings are really more of a distraction.
It's important to provide a pleasant environment, but let's not forget that there's a reason this place you go every day is called “work” and not “fun.” It’s not smart to go so far that you undermine the jobs that people are there to do.
There’s also a danger inherent to jumping on board with any new fad. Free-range office space was all the rage a few years ago, and a lot of companies spent a ton of cash remodeling only to realize that most employees don’t actually like this set-up. Everyone from entry-level staffers to senior executives prefers some modicum of privacy.
I think it’s better for organizations to try to beat the blahs by planning communal activities like happy hours or after-work socializing, motivating employees through rewards and recognition for a job well done and continuous exposure to new responsibilities and challenges.
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