This archive report was first published on 5 January 2020.
Revolutionizing the Workplace ¶
January 5, 2020
As the world of work continues to evolve, employers are reimagining the workplace to meet the changing needs and preferences of their employees. East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has taken a bold step in this direction by launching a new office complex at their headquarters in Nairobi's Ruaraka.
The modern office space, located at the Garden City Business Park, is a dramatic departure from the traditional office setup. Gone are the days of designated workstations and rigid hierarchies. Instead, the new office features agile sitting spaces, bars, kitchens, and a predominantly Afrocentric theme.
According to EABL's director of human resources, Ednah Otieno, the new office format recognizes the totality of the well-being of employees and allows them to be fully expressed. 'We spend a significant proportion of our life seated at our workplaces,' she explains. 'The idea was to make people be who they want to be while at work, to give them flexibility, agility, and the best space to do their job.'
The office space is designed to promote collaboration, creativity, and productivity. With personalized sections, open-plan spaces, and collaborative working areas, employees can choose how they want to work on any given day. The automation system also allows individuals or groups to book a space in real-time, eliminating the need for teams to clash over extended use of conference halls.
But how do HR managers assess the mood, attitude, and productivity of employees in this type of structure? Ednah notes that putting up a flexible office space doesn't change the underlying issues in an organization. 'To understand and diagnose issues relating to performance challenges and engagement in a business have to be dealt with in the most traditional of ways, both formally and informally.'
