Old School: Which Parts Of Office Life Have Stood The Test Of Time?

The modern office has gone through many evolutions and adaptations to become the tech-driven, uber-efficient, comfortable environment that it is today. Not so long ago, offices were dull, smoke-filled, dimly lit, cubicle filled rooms with little room for collaboration. Many of these offices did not encourage creativity but instead were managed through control and strict protocols and procedures.

Nowadays, however, the office environment is a much more warm, welcoming and inviting place to work. Business owners invest a lot of money in creating vibrant office space, with lots of natural light, plants, and fresh air that promote communication, collaboration and creativity. Some larger companies even have beanbags, video games, gyms, massage services, and other luxuries to help their employees to relax and unwind during their downtime. However, while modern office spaces are very different nowadays, there are some aspects of office life that have stood the test of time.

Let’s take a look at just a few elements of office life that remain intact, despite the modernisation of office spaces.

Printers And Copiers

Even though many offices are taking steps to become paperless, you will still find a photocopier and high-quality printers such as Epson Workforce printers, in just about every office in the country. Copiers and printers have been integral to the fabric of offices for decades and that is not likely to change anytime soon. Printing and copying will always play a part in office life. Whether you are printing contracts, in-office communications, or signage for the break room, it’s more efficient and cost-effective to do this internally than using an outside service.

Business Phone Calls

While nowadays, many business meetings, both internal and with clients, take place using video conferencing applications like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Skype, telephone conversations continue to play a crucial role. Every business needs a phone number and you will be hard-pressed to find a business that doesn’t have one. Even as more businesses are switching to social media, email and contact forms, as their preferred means of communication, phone calls continue to play a crucial role.

Using Computers

Computers have always been present in office life. More than just standing the test of time, however, computers have grown into a vital element of any office eco-system, big or small. Nowadays, there is a range of different business software programs available to business owners to help them with just about every aspect of their business. From accounting to staff scheduling, to marketing, project management and so much more, modern software tools enable business owners to operate more efficiently than ever before. This new reliance on computing has ensured that computers not only stood the test of time but evolved into the smaller, lighter, faster and more powerful machines that they are today.

Camaraderie With Colleagues

One of the best things about working in an office versus working on your own is the camaraderie you have with your colleagues. Working with a team creates a bond with the people you are working with and for decades this has led to great nights out, team-building trips, office parties, and other social events. This tradition remains a big part of modern office life. In fact, many businesses now prioritise having events like these to build morale and create a positive company culture.

The Future Of Office Life: What Can We Expect?

With more people working from home than ever before, many people are concerned that the office as we know it will soon become a thing of the past. However, the truth is that for a team to work well together, they benefit from being in each other’s company in a space dedicated to their needs. While office life in the future will certainly look very different to what we have today, many components of what we have now will continue to stand the test of time and while it might modernise and evolve, at its core office life will always remain the same.