Video calls have become as routine as email, but many offices are designed before the first Team invite hits anyone’s inbox. The result is a surprising gap: there is nothing right to call.
Forward-thinking businesses are filling that gap with purpose-built spaces that give video calling a proper home in the office, making the hybrid day smoother for everyone.
Hybrid work is here
Hybrid working is well established in British working life. According to the Office for National Statistics, more than a quarter (28%) of working adults in the UK now work in hybrid jobs, the highest share since the ONS began tracking the pattern, and the proportion will continue to rise from 2022.
For business, it means the office has a new project. It’s a place where people gather, but also where many people spend the day connecting with people elsewhere. Supporting these activities well is now central to a productive workplace, so office pods like those designed by MEAVO, are a familiar feature of the modern office.
The hidden costs of the wrong place
When there is no special place for the phone, people will improvise. They call at their desks, stay in the corridor, or book a meeting room designed for eight people to talk to people on the screen. Each option works after a fashion, but none of them are ideal.
Phone calls taken at the desk add background noise and make it difficult for colleagues to concentrate. Conversations in corridors lack privacy, which is important when discussing clients, contracts or staff. And meeting rooms booked for solo calls are not available for collaborations designed to host.
Technology adds another layer. The Owl Labs State of Hybrid Work 2025 UK report found that 79% of UK workers say they lose time to what they call “meeting tax”, with employees losing around seven minutes just starting a hybrid meeting, and 71% admitting they have given up trying to get video technology to work in the meeting room. Spaces designed specifically for phones, with simple and reliable settings, remove much of that friction.
What a big phone board looks like
The best spaces for video calling share some important qualities.
Acoustic privacy. Conversations should stay inside, and office noise should stay outside. That protects confidentiality and allows people to speak naturally.
Clear voice. The sound-absorbing interior prevents echoes, so callers sound clear and professional rather than distant.
Pleasant light. Soft, even lighting helps people look their best on camera, without glare on the screen.
Comfort to call again. Quiet ventilation, comfortable seating and a stable work surface make it easy to stay focused during long meetings.
Power and connectivity. Accessible power sockets and USB charging means no one has to ditch their phone because of a flat battery.
Board for every type of phone
Not all phones are the same, and pods and booths now come in a variety of formats.
One-person phone booths are ideal for phone calls, client check-ins and one-to-one video meetings. Compact and self-contained, it easily fits into open areas.
Two-person meeting pods are suitable for interviews, assessments and conversations where two colleagues are on the phone together.
The meeting pod for up to four people is designed for small hybrid meetings, where several people in the office connect with colleagues or clients on the screen, without connecting a full conference room.
Together, this format allows businesses to match each call to the right place, freeing up more room for workshops, presentations and team sessions.
A smart investment for a growing business
Especially for small and medium-sized businesses, pods and booths offer a practical alternative to building new rooms. They are freestanding, so they can be installed quickly without construction work or disruption for what day. They take up a little floor space, making them easy to fit into the existing layout. And because they’re portable, they adapt as your team grows and can be taken to your next office, protecting your investment for years to come.
He also sends a positive message to his employees. Giving people a comfortable, professional place to call shows that businesses understand how they can and want to make their day easier.
Start
See how the call happened today. Note where people need to call, and how often the meeting room is used by one or two people.
Plan for your busiest day. If most of the teams are on the same day, design on that peak.
Mix formats. Combine one-person booths near busy desk areas with small meeting pods for group calls.
Please respond. After the new space is used, check with the team and refine the mix if necessary.
Complete hybrid office
Hybrid offices work best when each activity has a natural home. Desks for individual work, open areas for collaboration, meeting rooms for larger sessions, and now, dedicated spaces for video calls that fill much of the modern workday. By adding phone booths and meeting pods, businesses can close that gap, give their teams the privacy and professionalism they need, and make the office a better place to work.