How a Table Transformed our Culture
A small change can make a big difference - our Portland showroom is proof.
As people return to the office, improving culture is top of mind for many CEOs, HR Directors, and managers. A quick Google search will present you with thousands of results on how to do it, including articles, research, products, software, and more.
Cultivating culture can look different between offices – based on schedules, the nature of work, location, or the number of employees. As experts in our field, we believe in the power of a well-designed space and what it can do for a company and its culture, on small and large scales.
Creative Office Resources has 13 locations, which range in size from 10 employees to 250 employees. Landing somewhere in the middle is our Portland, Maine showroom. Our Portland team consists of 30 employees in roles like design, sales, customer service, marketing and project management. COR Portland Showroom recently had an exciting furniture refresh that allowed us to rethink how our people work. One of the many design decisions we made was to replace our traditional dining tables in our café area with a large communal table, a small change that has transformed our culture.
What Did We Do?
Along with replacing our two, 4-6 person round dining tables with a large communal table, we also implemented a "No Eating At Your Desk" rule in the office. While part of this rule was to keep our unassigned workspaces clean, it also encouraged employees to unplug and step away from their desk to refuel and spend time with coworkers.
The table is actually two Muuto Workshop tables together to create one large communal table, which provides ample space for our team as well as flexibility to move them around as needed for events and trainings. Around the table, you'll find 10 different dining chairs, all from the MillerKnoll Collective of Brands. It's a fun game of "Pick Your Chair" each day, while also showing a wide variety of seating options for our clients in one place.
What Was The Impact?
People tend to coalesce around the table around the same time every day, so it definitely feels more like a family sitting down to eat and much less individualistic during lunch time.
- John Hogan, Account Executive
The new table removed the need to choose where and with whom you sat with at lunch. Now, we just sit together!
- Zoe Fluet, Marketing Associate
The "No food at your desk rule" was an adjustment for a lot of people but having the new layout in the kitchen makes people want to leave their desk and spend time with teammates!
- Mikayla Carney, Showroom Administrator
Everyone is so busy, but setting aside a half hour for non-work related conversations really enhances the feeling of camaraderie throughout the office. I love to learn about folks' families, hobbies, the latest much watch streaming series and the hot new restaurants. I leave the table ready to jump back in to productivity after a quick bit of downtime.
- Beth Whaley, Vice President, Sales
What Did We Learn?
- You don't need to change your entire space. A small change can make a big difference! If you're working with a particular budget or timeline, we can help you identify reasonable options that will have a big impact.
- Pay attention to where your people spend time together…are they always hanging by the coffee machine? Create a lounge area nearby to encourage conversation. Are they pulling up chairs to workstations to collaborate? Consider adding storage with cushion tops for quick touch down seating, or mobile tables between stations so employees can have a touch down space on demand.
- Change takes time. Change takes time and people can be hesitant to change. Get buy-in from leadership and other influential employees that can set examples. Talk about the positive aspects of changes, instead of presenting them as "rules" or "standards".
