NATION

NATION

Large changes predicted for corporate workplaces

NEW YORK — Four-day workweeks and no more cubicles — could this be the future of the workplace?

Job placement consultancy Challenger, Gray Christmas Inc. recently released a list of workplace predictions that reflect the evolution of technology and rising cost of health care and energy.

They include:

UThe end of business travel. Rising airfares and pressure to become environmentally responsible could drive corporations to opt for teleconferencing rather than sending employees on frequent business trips.

UFour-day workweeks. Given the rise of gas prices and the availability of portable technology, four-day weeks could become a new standard for corporate America.

UNo more cubicles. Employers are increasingly replacing confined cubicles with common areas, conference tables and community workspaces to promote interaction and teamwork.

Virtual watercooler brings back office conversation

NEW YORK — Nothing beats chitchatting with colleagues around the watercooler. But as companies go national and global, and employees increasingly telecommute from home, the conversation hub may run the risk of becoming extinct in some offices.

That’s why outsourcing and consulting firm Accenture Ltd. has just launched a virtual watercooler that it hopes will serve as a model for other companies. The online forum allows employees to upload dialogue, personal pictures and videos, and work-related projects. It’s accessible only from within the company but is similar to online social networking Web sites.

Associated Press