MYOB moves to customised activity-based workplace

Business services provider MYOB has transformed its workplace into a festival zone, music studio, campsite, laneway and playing field.

Those were themes the accounting software company and its employees chose for "neighbourhood" activity-based work zones following its recent move into the largest single-floor workspace in suburban Melbourne.

MYOB is the latest company to embrace activity-based working, an innovation that reduces space requirements by giving employees a laptop and a locker but no fixed desk.

The intent of MYOB's "neighbourhoods" is to create a "homey" rather than corporate workplace, retain key staff and foster a fun, innovative, collaborative space that drives interaction among staff.

The company moved from the Tally Ho Business Park in Burwood East to the top of The Glen shopping centre in Glen Waverley.

In doing so it reduced its office space from 6400 square metres to 4900 sq m while increasing the workforce from 450 to 500.

The refit was complete in 11 weeks, retained about 5 per cent of the original fitout and minimised costs for the remainder (about $850 per sq m) by including the builder in the design process throughout, Colliers International project services director Robert Sloan said.

MYOB was selective in its use of activity-based working, Mr Sloan said. The result was breakout areas for quick meetings but some departments, like the call centre, remained unchanged. Another advantage it gave was flexibility to scale up or down during peak demand periods.