What do you Need to Work?

I have been reading about this event that happened just past. It was talking about the general trend of more understanding of the role of choice in office design. Retaining happy employees is the ultimate goal of any company but some how its more difficult than ever before and understandably there is a clambering to this third wave in workplace design to pin down a transient workforce.

This show was a slick, obvious cluck-fest about how companies need to make an investment in understanding their workers needs and wants, then try to balance that choice and empowerment with comfort and security. 

I feel like this show fell down a bit because while it's almost a given now that a choice in working environments is essential for our present day knowledge based economy, there's only a slight nod to the elevation of choice in to the company culture. Showing it's okay to make choices through leadership and mentorship make for happier more productive employees but existing attitudes about such dumb stuff as the correct time and place to take a personal phone call, still prevail as forcefully as ever. 

Is it likely the full potential of workplace design be realized if the users are stifled by perpetuated outmoded Taylorist doctrine? I don't know anything anymore.

Here's some chat from some people who attended the event. What do you need to work? I think I need a walk, best check with the boss.