OFFICE PARTY
Sex toys, sheep and fireman’s poles — has the modern office gone insane?
YOU don’t expect to see sheep at the office but they seem to add to a happy work environment. The cute (wire) sheep at The Open office space in Maboneng Precinct in central Joburg sit on their corner of (fake) grass putting green, eliciting smiles when they get noticed.
Neither the sheep nor the green serve any purpose, other than making work fun. And people with fun stuff in their offices say their staff work harder and better.
Take the double-storey slide at digital marketers Missing Link’s offices in Fourways. Or their fireman’s pole, treehouse, pellet-gun shooting range, free tattoo parlour and mini-spa …
All gratuitous but oh so much fun. Just try to not feel energised after a good slide on your bum.
A new recruit lies on a chaise longue banging away at a laptop. They have a deli caravan where staff get snacks, quick meals and great coffee, free of charge. There are mottos everywhere — their ideology is “Give a Shit”.
The cheeky decor includes a swing set, a throne and a graphic artist’s clever CV, made of toilet paper, which reads, “I’m not shit, hire me.”
Speaking of, there are no cubicles or fluorescent lights in the toilets either. The ladies’ has sex toys and the men’s is a peep-show booth.
MD Sam Leontsinis says: “It’s all about creating a good head space as well as office environment.”
Her own office is a snazzy bird’s nest made of white branches, with a chandelier and anime accessories.
“I have an open-door policy, so there is no door. It is a fun space to be in, but for us it is like going to a normal office. We work hard. We believe the office slays boredom, which is another of our mottos — even if we don’t all get tattoos every month, like some of our employees do, or use the fireman’s pole every day.
“We want clients to understand that corporate, medical, auditing, does not have to be boring. And they totally buy into it. After they realise we are not mad.”
Agencies such as Ogilvy, with its Lego wall and colour-changing boardrooms, lean towards environments that stimulate creativity.
Some office environments drive the competitive edge. Internet Solutions founder Ronnie Apteker says their offices at Dimension Data Campus in Bryanston are surrounded by a nine-hole golf course. It gets staff in on weekends.
“This is a magic business but a high-pressure environment. The golf course was in line with the spirit of this place. Sports lovers, balance, exercise, the love of the game.”
In Cape Town’s Old Biscuit Mill, the Daddy.O open office space is not extreme but eclectic — it is rented out at an hourly rate. It is a newish concept in SA that seems to cater mainly to freelancers. And you can get snacks called Bliss Balls made from raw superfoods to keep the mind going.
Restaurant reviewer Gert Uys uses the space at least four times a week. “Before that, I was a major shareholder at coffee shops, which are not entirely productive. I tried a business centre but it was too formal. This is not a Google or Yahoo with pool tables and bikes, but it has a great energy. Everybody here is a young start-up. We share ideas and thoughts.
“There is a sense of urgency and self-belief. It is far more productive than working at home because I am believing in myself a bit more, with a little bit of routine.”
Monique Jordaan, a social-media manager, says open offices can be more expensive than conventional ones if you use them every day, but they are worth every penny.
“Not only do you get the opportunity to promote your own services, you also get connected to motivated people and experts in their field. From day one, connec- tions were made by networking through notice boards, free marketing elements, monthly luncheons and social-media introductions. I love seeing that Capetonians are embracing virtual offices and flexible hours — this is the way the world is moving.”
Westleigh Wilkinson, co-founder of The Open, home to the wire sheep, says the open office comes from a Silicon Valley formula. “It is a coral reef, no walls, but teeming with interesting people.”
Of course, there are hipsters everywhere. But corporates like the banks and Deloitte rent permanent “thinking” areas.
“It is like the concept of flying. Not everyone can afford a plane but most can afford a seat on a plane.” And it happens to be a really cool plane.
Apart from the sheep, they have super-fast Internet, trendy furniture, a coffee bar and large windows overlooking the inner city.
Wilkinson says the space puts people into a successful mood. “It seems infectious. We’ve had a few joint ventures born here.”
Jaun-Claude Pienaar runs his company, Apex Media, from The Open. “The amazing thing about this is the number of people we run into every day. Even if it is not relevant to our business, being in the middle of innovation all around us, keeps us pushing to do better.”
He has never used the putting green, he says, but it’s nice to know it’s there.