The Harvard Business Review doesn’t sound like the kind of place where writers would be riffing about bringing mobile workers back to the “Mother Ship”. It just goes to show you that today’s business professionals are likely more conversant with Star Trek than The Odyssey. That’s OK – a metaphor is a metaphor. Philip Tidd at the HBR talks in a recent article about the fact that 4 out of 10 workers are expected to be mobile by 2015. However, that doesn’t mean they should be relegated to the periphery when they do occasionally “dock” with the office.  In fact, as much as some employees enjoy being out and on the go, they should also look forward to being energized by reconnecting with coworkers at the office.

Tidd provides several examples of office spaces that deliver what mobile workers need. One prevailing concept is flexibility that promotes the configuration of empowered teaming space for projects as needed. Another is the mix of private and collaborative spaces so mobile workers can come into the office not just to socialize but also to focus away from distractions.

Do you have an office that is designed to invite mobile workers in and provide what they need? Or, do you feel like you have enough to worry about with keeping your desk-bound employees happy? What would you change if you could? Let us know in the comments.

CC license image courtesy of Flickr user Ryan Somma