Return to office push drives 'surge' in privacy pods

Limerick-headquartered firm reports increased demand for private pods in open offices

A framery pod in an open office. According to Limerick-headquartered office supplies and fit-out specialist Huntoffice.ie, demand for privacy pods has peaked since the start of the year. 

Privacy pods are back in vogue amid the renewed push by employers to bring staff back into the office, with one Irish company reporting a 'surge' in demand.

The past year has seen a push back to the office by some employers, with recruiters reporting growing demand from companies for prospective employees to be on site. Nevertheless, some 1m people across Ireland's economy continue to utilise remote working options. Last month, the Government said a code of practice for the right to request remote work would be stengthened, though opposition parties accused the Government of failing to take meaningful action to promote and protect remote working in Ireland. 

According to Limerick-headquartered office supplies and fit-out specialist Huntoffice.ie, demand for privacy pods has peaked since the start of the year.

“Open-plan offices can feel increasingly noisy on busy days, particularly for people who’ve become accustomed to working from home. Many employees returning to the office need a quiet bolthole from time to time,” said Seamus Hunt, managing director and co-founder of Hunt Office Interiors. 

"Privacy pods offer a cost-effective, non-permanent solution where staff can focus, think clearly or make important calls without disruption,"

First established in 1999, the Hunt Office group operates showrooms at Cork’s Monahan Road, Citywest in Dublin, and Newcastle West in Co Liimerick. The group employs 65 people across Ireland and the UK, and supplies over 150,000 office products.

John Hunt, director of E‑Business at Huntoffice.ie, said the traditional five-day office week is no longer the norm. “Most teams now work in a hybrid model, spending three or four days a week in the office. This has accelerated the redesign of workplaces to include collaboration hubs, lounges, breakout zones and café-style social spaces.” 

Looking ahead, Seamus Hunt believes offices must become even more adaptable and technology-driven. “AI-powered space management, modular layouts, sustainable materials, and workplaces built around employee experience are the future."