How do you set up your office to successfully contribute to the hybrid work experience for your employees?
The new meetings
With more and more people working both in the office and from home, it is important to set up flexible meetings so that everyone, regardless of location, can participate effectively.
A call box, phone booth or pod is a valuable addition to provide employees with an online meeting place for effective meetings in the office.
InteriorWorks is an independent dealer of phone booths and (larger) pods and concentration workstations. The booths and pods we offer have been extensively tested and offer the following benefits:
- Suitable for (video) calling and focus work
- More than 30 dB noise reduction
- Comfort through good ventilation, acoustics and furniture
- Compact design that fits into various office environments
- Employee reservation system
- Sustainably produced in Europe
Interested in a phone booth?
Got curious?
Got a good idea about the different phone booths but still not sure which booth best suits your unique work situation? Our experts will be happy to help you out. You can do two things, namely:
- Get personalized advice from one of our experts
- Come to our showroom and test our phone booths for yourself
More on phone booths and pods.
Improved productivity due to less noise in the workplace
Hybrid working is here to stay, requiring thinking about a new office layout. Good news! This doesn't have to involve major remodeling. Phone booths or (larger) pods are a flexible solution and ensure that you don't disturb your colleagues on the shop floor with your phone call or video call. It also works the other way around. Is it noisy on the shop floor? Then lock yourself in a call box or pod so you can focus. A quieter work environment creates 15 to 28% more productivity. More importantly, a quiet work environment also contributes to employee well-being and mental health.
Flexibility in office layout
Looking at occupancy and behavior, data from Measuremen (2022) shows that closed meeting spaces are missed in the workplace, while open consultation spaces and consultation tables are often not used. This means that space is not being used to its full potential. Online meetings are now the norm, whether you work from home or the office. At the office, this means you prefer to look for an enclosed space, and when large(er) meeting rooms are available, one and one is two. Large meeting rooms are not used for what they are intended for, much to the frustration of your employees.
A new office layout without a major remodel? Then you can! Pods on the work floor is an efficient and flexible solution for the layout and optimal use of space in the office. Pods come in different sizes; from single call cells, an enclosed workstation for focus work incl. desk, to pods for two to six people for a physical meeting. This keeps large meeting rooms available and pods solve the misuse of open or enclosed spaces.
How do you choose a phone booth?
Every situation is different, which also makes choosing the right booth a challenge. Our team offers the help you need. After all, it's not a given that the pod with the best specs on paper is immediately the best choice for your office.
What is the purpose of the purchase? Do you need the booth for a consultation, a short call or do colleagues have many confidential conversations? Is sustainability important and how much do you value the design of the booth? Also consider the technical aspect: is a connection to the sprinkler system required, for example? These are all points on which we advise.
What do you want to use a phone booth for?
It is important to identify where the needs of the team lie. We advise per pod or booth what it can best be used for.
Pods can be used for the following activities:
- Short (unscheduled or scheduled) phone calls or video meetings
- Long scheduled video meetings
- Focus work for one person
- Focus work for multiple people
- A physical consultation with two or more people
- Collaborating, brainstorming or giving presentations
Aspects that determine which booth is appropriate for which activity:
- Acoustics for a fine sound experience in the pod. The more one uses the pod, the better the acoustics should be.
- Soundproofing for privacy for users and colleagues around the pod. When the pod is placed in a quiet room or near workstations, soundproofing is of greater importance - both the sound level from inside the pod to the outside, and from outside the pod to the inside.
- Air ventilation. The longer someone uses the pod, the more important a good flow of fresh air is. Especially in larger pods where several people are working or meeting in the pod at the same time.
- Ergonomic furniture. Should the pod be used only for calls or online meetings of up to an hour? Then don't place a pod with an ergonomic workstation and office chair. People will then stay seated soon after a meeting and occupy the pod for the rest of the day. A pod with a work surface with a comfortable stool is often sufficient.
- Technology is important for an optimal experience in video meetings; in addition to access to power and the Internet, consider special lighting for video calling. In addition, several manufacturers also offer a reservation system including integration for company calendars and booths and pods have sensors to measure real-time usage.
- Accessibility for disabled people.
Convinced about a pod in the office? Then make sure you make arrangements with your employees about the use of pods. If you have installed a pod intended for short calls, you don't want your employee to keep the pod occupied for hours because of focus work. Several manufacturers have sophisticated reservation systems to smoothly manage usage and occupancy. Consider maximum reservation time, as well as data collection on occupancy and how best to use the pod.
Where will the phone booth be located?
Perhaps the most important question is: Where will the booth or pod be located? Acoustics and soundproofing plays a big role in determining where the pod will be. The pod with the best specs on paper is not the best pod for every spot in the office. You have to consider the noise levels of the spaces where you place a pod. On the shop floor at workstations, for example, the noise level will be lower than at the entrance to the building or in the cafeteria or restaurant.
Keep in mind these 5 aspects:
- Nearby. Place pods close to users so that people can find and use the pods quickly and easily. Especially for unplanned calls, it is nice to have pods close to workstations. Employees prefer to travel a not too long distance when they want to use a booth.
- Available. Place pods strategically in different areas of the office so that private spaces are always available to work in and make (video) calls.
- Practical. Place pods where they will be used - near noisy workplaces, open spaces and social hotspots.
- Visible. Place pods so that it is easy to see if the pods are occupied or available for use.
- Accessible. Place pods in locations that are easily accessible to all employees to ensure equal access to private workspaces.
But who are we?
InteriorWorks is the interior specialist who can apply work happiness, design and health in a fully circular and sustainable interior within any organization. With expert knowledge, flexibility and an extensive network, we arrive at a suitable business interior. Interior becomes noticeably workable - we make interiors
work for you.
InteriorWorks is an official dealer of more than 300 designer brands. With our experience in office and project design, we can provide you with expert advice and competitive quotes.
Our interior design specialists will be happy to help you. They know everything about project design within the office, hospitality, education and care sectors. Curious about the possibilities and the brands we represent? Get in touch with us!
What are phone booths used for?
Phone booths are often used in offices, public spaces and coworking areas to provide a quiet and private environment for phone and video calls or focused work. Larger booths or pods can also be used for brainstorming sessions and giving (online) presentations. It is important to identify where the needs of the team lie.
What are the benefits of phone booths?
Improved productivity due to less noise in the workplace
hone booths or (larger) pods are a flexible solution and ensure you don't disturb your colleagues on the shop floor with your call or video call. It also works the other way around. Is it noisy on the shop floor? Then lock yourself in a call booth or pod so you can focus. A quieter work environment creates 15 to 28% more productivity. More importantly, a quiet work environment also contributes to employee well-being and mental health.
Flexibility in office layout
A new office layout without major remodeling is possible! Pods on the work floor is an efficient and flexible solution for the layout and optimal use of space in the office. Pods come in different sizes; from single call cells, an enclosed workstation for focus work including desk, to pods for two to six people for a physical meeting. This keeps large meeting rooms available and pods solve the misuse of open or enclosed spaces.
Where will a phone booth be located?
Perhaps the most important question is: Where will the booth or pod be located? Acoustics and soundproofing plays a big role in determining where the pod will be. The pod with the best specs on paper is not always the best pod for every spot in the office. You have to consider the sound levels of the spaces in which you place a pod. For example, on the floor at workstations, the (ambient) noise level will be lower than at the entrance to the building or in the cafeteria or restaurant.
Also consider how employees will use the booth. For example, it appears that a booth is more likely to be used for a (short) phone call if it is located close to existing workstations. Employees prefer not to travel a long distance when they want to use a booth.
What should I consider when buying a booth?
Acoustics for a fine sound experience in the pod. The more and longer) one uses the pod, the better the acoustics should be.
Soundproofing for privacy for users and colleagues around the pod. When the pod is placed in a quiet room or near workstations, soundproofing is of greater importance - both the sound level from inside the pod to the outside, and from outside the pod to the inside.
Air ventilation. The longer someone uses the pod, the more important a good flow of fresh air is. Especially in larger pods where several people are working or meeting in the pod at the same time.
Ergonomic furniture. Should the pod be used only for calls or online meetings of up to an hour? Then don't place a pod with an ergonomic workstation and office chair. People will then stay seated soon after a meeting and occupy the pod for the rest of the day. A pod with a work surface with a comfortable stool is often sufficient.
Technology is important for an optimal experience in video meetings; in addition to access to power and the Internet, consider special lighting for video calling. In addition, several manufacturers also offer a reservation system including integration for company calendars and booths and pods have sensors to measure real-time usage.
Accessibility for disabled people.
