# Why Employees are "Hacking" the Workplace | with Ken Baker

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-the-f-is-happening-to-the-office-7601316/why-employees-are-hacking-the-workplace-with-ken-baker
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-the-f-is-happening-to-the-office-7601316/why-employees-are-hacking-the-workplace-with-ken-baker.md
Podcast: [What The F* is Happening to The Office?](https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-the-f-is-happening-to-the-office-7601316)
Published: 2026-04-20T20:40:30+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/workdesign/episodes/Why-Employees-are-Hacking-the-Workplace--with-Ken-Baker-e3i6oi8
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/10c4b433c/podcast/play/118759432/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-20%2F422472434-44100-2-15c6c7b19cbf1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/what-the-f-is-happening-to-the-office-7601316/episodes/why-employees-are-hacking-the-workplace-with-ken-baker
Duration seconds: 2776

## Resource

What if the office isn’t underperforming… it’s just never been aligned with how people actually work?In this conversation, I sit down with Ken Baker, Regional Managing Principal at Gensler, to unpack what’s really changing in the workplace, and what most organizations are still getting wrong. Ken brings a unique perspective, not just as a designer, but as someone leading a global firm while navigating the same pressures his clients are facing.We discuss the real issues shaping the next generation of work environments:-Why the office is struggling to keep up with how people actually work-How AI is amplifying human interaction, not replacing it-The shift from efficiency → experience, performance, and connection-Why the best workplaces are becoming “magnets, not mandates”-The growing role of hospitality, learning, and focus spaces-How better design is directly tied to profitability, retention, and performance-What leaders are missing about their own organizations-And why the future may depend on how we rethink and reuse our citiesDownload the State of the Workplace Report - https://workdesign.beehiiv.com/industry-reportA synthesis of insights from leaders across design, research, and workplace strategy.

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## Transcript

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