It has been scientifically proven that the design of the workspace affects the creativity and well-being of the employees. People who are happier at work are more productive, engaged, creative and have better focus. Today’s business market is very competitive so companies must use every aspect of work to gain an advantage over their rivals, and increasing the employees’ well-being through office design is one way to achieve that. Employees thrive in a space that encourages collaboration and productivity, and those two elements are very important if a company wants to be successful. Let’s have a look how you can increase employee well-being in the workplace.
Bring in the greenery
Research shows that workers perform better in offices that have plants in them than in those without greenery. Office plants can improve the employees’ well-being by a whopping 47%! This increase in well being boosts morale, productivity and mood. Plants also create a welcoming environment for employees, employers and clients alike. It’s also beneficial if you use natural materials or materials that evoke nature such as laminates and veneers to add warmth.
Let the sunshine in
Natural light is another factor that affects the employees’ well-being in the workspace. One way to ensure you provide your workers with enough natural light is glass. Glass not only lets the sunshine in but also offers unobstructed views and clean, sleek look. It helps create a clear space for free thinking, both in a real and metaphorical sense. Natural light helps with happiness, energy and morale, it affects mood and productivity, so it can be key to employee well-being. Also, different tasks in the office require different types and levels of lighting, so make sure to provide your workers with different light sources. Task lights are used for specific jobs, and ambient light provides general lighting for the office when the sunlight is scarce.
Ergonomic furniture
Office furniture greatly affects the health of the employees’, since sitting at and on badly designed furniture can be very bad for the back, neck, legs and heart. Too much sitting can also be very bad for health, so many offices introduce ergonomic furniture and height adjustable desks to increase employee wellness. Adjustable desks and ergonomic chairs allow you to change your position throughout the day and retain spine’s natural shape. There are many stores that sell high-quality adjustable office desks, so check them out and help your employees’ health and wellbeing.
Provide multiple communal areas
Even though companies usually have very little communal space, it’s crucial for effective collaboration and sharing ideas. Different people like to collaborate in different spaces, so providing a variety of communal spaces is key. For instance, provide the kitchen and the sitting area in the lobby with some comfy couches where people from different departments can socialise, brainstorm ideas and come up with great solutions. Of course, you also need to have some more formal conference rooms as well.
Provide privacy
Big cities such as Sydney prefer more open offices that don’t provide much privacy, as opposed to smaller cities such as Auckland. The open workspace concept can get noisy and distracting, and not everyone can thrive in that environment. Make sure to provide areas where employees can concentrate without distraction and distracting others. Get phone booths, huddle spaces and quiet zones to help keep noise levels at a minimum. You can also add screens and partitions to workstations to provide more visual privacy and space boundaries.
Now that you see how essential well-designed workspace is to your employees’ well-being, it’s time to give your offices a makeover. This way you will achieve the level of quality work you and your employees want to accomplish.
By Arron Hiddleston
Arron is an interior design blogger with three years of experience covering home improvement and garden renovation. He loves sharing meaningful content that educates and inspires people. He’s a regular contributor to High Style Life and Smoothdecorator.