Where I Work: A Bullpen for Productivity, and a Communal Table for Ideas

Never underestimate the power of a workspace that skyrockets an awesome company culture and drives productivity.

Interior designers will tell you how important it is to ensure your living space provides good energy for your purposes in that specific room. Your work or office space should be no different. When it comes to office life, a cohesive and well thought-out setup can clear the mind and promote teamwork, upping overall productivity and positive company culture.

At Ciplex, our office is set up for creativity and growth. Here’s how we drive productivity:

1. Bullpen areas. Ciplex has two bullpen areas where most employees work. This is so employees can see each other and are motivated, as they are surrounded by others who are also working. This setup allows for productivity in the office, as it is key to be surrounded by like-minded, motivated team members with the opportunity to physically work together in large teams and or break out into clear space when needed.

2. Open conference rooms. Employees in the bullpen area are surrounded by six conference rooms that are always available without booking hassles for meetings or quiet time. Why is this important? Employees never have to deal with booking rooms, finding one available, or missing meetings because of a lack of space. It also offers the ability for people to zone in and get things done in a quiet area if they need to escape the bullpen.

3. Communal lunches. Ciplex’s lunch area is communal. This encourages people to eat together--a basic human activity we often underestimate and take for granted. You'd be surprised what ideas can happen from lunches. At Ciplex, every week we have an “idea lunch,” in which we buy food for everyone in the office and brainstorm ways to make the company better.

4. Community spaces. Ciplex also boasts two break areas, a ping pong table, an Xbox with bean bags, and foosball tables upstairs. We don’t block out time when people can play or work. Employees can do what they want, whenever they want. Everyone works to meet company goals, and we give them full autonomy to do it in any way they want--including fun culture-building efforts and ways to teambuild through games. A fridge full of caffeine, a hotel-style coffee pot, and lots of windows to let in natural light are also key to keeping workers productive.

Company culture is key to productivity, and your workspace functions in two ways. Not only does it say a lot about your culture, but it also helps to promote your culture by providing physical space for employees to work together, collaborate, and socialize.