Unworking: The Reinvention of the Modern Office

Over the past hundred years, the office has been integral to the development of modern society. It has shaped the architecture of our cities, the behaviour of our organizations and the everyday movements of millions of people. In 2020, however, the global pandemic brought our attendance in the office to an abrupt halt and triggered a complete re-evaluation of the purpose of the workplace. This book offers a panoramic view of the office and explores what happens next. The authors advance a manifesto for ‘unworking’ – unlearning old habits and rituals established for an outdated office and creating new ones fit for an age of digital technology, design innovation and diverse workforces.

About the Author :
Jeremy Myerson is a design writer and professor emeritus in the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art in London. With Philip Ross, he cofounded Worktech and the Worktech Academy, an online knowledge platform and network on the future of work and the workplace. Philip Ross is a futurist, commentator, and advisor specialising in the impact of emerging technology on people and their ways of working. With Jeremy Myerson, he cofounded Worktech and the Worktech Academy, an online knowledge platform and network on the future of work and the workplace.

Review :
Finalist A timely new book about how to reinvent the office [by] veteran observers of the future of work. By examining 10 forces of change that all business leaders should understand, the authors encourage us to reflect on and rid ourselves of defunct habits and rituals established by an outdated office . . . a must-read. Jeremy Myerson and Philip Ross's Unworking looks at the post-pandemic worlds of work. There are chapters on wellbeing, diversity and the changes in the city itself concluding we need to unlearn familiar notions of the office and develop a new approach that celebrates difference, not homogeneity. This book could not be more timely as the world grapples with what the post-pandemic workplace should look like. Jeremy Myerson and Philip Ross give us a scholarly yet deeply engaging account of the past, present and future shape of the office. Essential reading for those planning the new office environment – and anyone who’s going to have to live in it. A lively, readable account of the past, present, and possible future of the office. It should appeal to knowledge workers who remain partially or completely office-bound. Academics interested in how the urban and work environment influence management and worker behavior will find this book especially helpful. Myerson and Ross argue that efficiency theory was the dominant force behind the evolution of office designs for most of the last century. However, recent economic and public health shocks, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, have disrupted the way work is done and dismantled the old vestiges of office design (though these transformations were already underway before the pandemic). The authors argue that offices should no longer be designed around what people do at work but around how they feel about work. Offices should now seek to create a sense of community. The book uses examples to show how office designs have evolved to emphasize workers over their work . . . The authors make a compelling case that old work systems should be unraveled and workers given the freedom to create the work experiences they truly want. Recommended. Philip Ross and Jeremy Myerson capture the most significant changes in the world of the office for decades. Their understanding of the social, economic, technology changes and the roles of home and office is unsurpassed. Brimming with ideas, insights, examples and wisdom, this is the go-to book for everyone interested in the future of the office and curious about the future development of work. The pandemic has dramatically changed the way we work and how we work. Unworking is a fantastic and highly readable book, providing a pathway for the new world of work and the office environments of the future. This is a ‘must read’ for senior executives and many others in navigating the opportunities for future workplaces—you won’t regret it! To challenge the status quo so that new thinking can emerge, we have to be able to hold both a strong grasp of how we got here, and a deep understanding of the forces that are driving the need for change. Philip Ross and Jeremy Myerson have a wealth of experience and insight in both these areas. They are also consummate communicators: their manifesto is unputdownable, at turns scary and exhilarating, a thrilling invitation to create work – and work spaces – that work for all. This compelling, well-written book provides a historical perspective on the world of work, as well as a forward-thinking outlook on how to navigate its impact on our lives. Leisure and work are evermore intertwined, and Unworking gave me moments of insight that I can act upon both at work and in private. A joy to read. Unworking takes you on panoramic journey, arriving at a plausible, evidence-based future of how work and the workplace will evolve. Rigorous and readable, it offers a better understanding of how we can reinvent the workplace taxonomy. A must-read for understanding the forces that influence how we work. Myerson and Ross expertly examine the facets reshaping the office landscape with a view into “What’s Next”. Unworking is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in the workplaces needed to help people thrive. Unworking is well written and very readable; it contributes to important discussions . . . The book is certainly going to be a good resource for practitioners wanting to understand the complexity of issues facing them in the post-pandemic world of work and organizations.