In his blog, Louis Dupont mentions Google’s focus on developing the working environment, including free food and gym memberships, pool tables and bowling, as well as many other amenities to make employees happier and more productive. While enjoying their working environments, Google employees are becoming more stimulated leading to more achievement and increased confidence. The quality of Google’s employee atmosphere makes jobs there so desirable.

Some organizations attempt to realize a competitive advantage by creating pleasing physical environments. A good example of this would be SOHO 3Q, a co-working workplace where I interned last summer. 3Q provides both private offices and individual workstations in an open-office layout. Relaxed seats, accompanied by bamboo trees, a green textured floor, and close proximity to on-site eating make 3Q an exceptional workplace. Additional services available to tenants in include free WIFI, conference rooms, printing machines, phone booths and unlimited free coffee.

What surprised me most was the very open and flexible co-working environment. I could choose anywhere I feel comfortable to sit down and work. The offices are transparent and everyone passing by can easily see what the employees at work. Some companies similar layouts as an opportunity to advertise themselves by showing their featured products through the window. As a co-working spot including many start-up companies, 3Q’s environment increases the chances of companies connecting and interacting with others. Sofa areas make it easy to find someone to share business ideas and discuss news with.

3Q also organizes events such as “Pan’s Dialogue”, where chairman Pan Shiyi discusses entrepreneurship with well-known business personalities such as Xiaomi‘s Chairman Lei Jun, and entrepreneur Kai-Fu Lee. While I was interning, I joined many workshops held by other neighbor companies in 3Q to learn their interesting business innovations and creations. Some companies organized activities such as free massage and yoga classes at the hall of 3Q. While we were enjoying these free activities to relax they were also advertising themselves.

Many companies love 3Q and gain benefits while they are in the development stage as 3Q is not simply a modern and comfortable co-working environment, but also provides more possibilities for a workplace rather than in the quality of its physical surroundings.

 

364 words

Sources:

S. Ones and S. Dilchert, “Environmental Sustainability at Work: A Call to Action,” Industrial and Organizational Psychology 5 (2012), pp. 444–466.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOHO_3Q