In the past introduction to new employers and their offices ranged from non-existent to ‘this is the loo – that is the cafeteria – this is where you sit’ to one very proud former colonel leading us around showing off the solar panels and the glass dome at the entrance that doubled as skylight to the basement. One thing they all had in common, was the ‘walk-around-and-get-to-know’ element.
The futuristic company though is different. The session was listed as F&S. I assumed it was finance and something or the other and attempted to stay awake and therefore heard enough to be able to compose this post. (New resolutions of how I must be financially aware and responsible in action here. This year I will file receipts and not pay tax to government!) I really wish I could share this masterpiece with all of you, but it was unfortunately not recorded on video or audio for posterity. So you shall have to content yourselves with description of key highlights.
The reception is a long room – about 40ft X 15ft – with the air conditioning and the lights switched off most of the time. Adorning this room are 3 couches laid out in a straight line and a reception desk behind which are seated one numbers sweet faced-salwar kameez clad receptionist and one numbers security guard. The rest of the office layout is like a polo (the mint with a hole!). A hollow glass topped and glass walled core runs through the entire building of 10 floors. Around this circular empty space is the standard open office layout of brown cubicles that somehow appear gray and in the corners and along the walls (to take advantage of the view) and to prevent the slaving masses from being distracted by the outside world are glass walled cabins. A tiny breakout area with a coffee machine and a short passage leading to restrooms and emergency exit complete the facilities. All of this can be taken in less time than it takes to make Maggi noodles.
But in true consulting ishtyle all of this is explained in a half an hour presentation (due to lack of questions our session finished in 20 minutes) and includes such sparkling dialogue:
“As you can see, we have these cubicles which are uniformly laid out in the same beige colour for everyone. And it is an open office. However to break the monotony and keep you cheerful we have pillars in different bright colours”
“While everyone is eligible for cubicles, only senior managers and executives are eligible for IES. IES stands for Individual Enclosed Space. In layman’s terms you can also call this a Cabin”.
Now I KNOW I work for a consulting firm!!!

