Many business owners and managers underestimate the importance of workplace design and office aesthetics. What many people don’t know is that the surrounding environment can affect work productivity and output. While some elements can help promote efficiency, others can make employees less motivated and lazier. Read through our article to learn how to design the perfect workplace and make your employees feel more comfortable.
Variety Over Openness
For years, companies all over the world have been implementing an open office layout, believing that this offers more freedom to the employees. While no one would enjoy feeling isolated at all times, even if they’re working, an open workspace is not always the answer. In fact, according to the “Journal of Facilities Management” that was published in 2002, open offices are associated with higher absenteeism rates. Another study titled “Traditional versus Open Office Design: A Longitudinal Field Study” revealed that open-plan spaces are linked to a decreased job satisfaction and workplace productivity. Employees are also subject to higher stress and tiredness levels when working in these offices, as per the
“Journal of Environmental Psychology.” If you’ve adopted an open-space type of office, you may want to consider shifting toward one that offers more variety. Workspaces with more options can help promote creativity, engagement, and increase output. This means that you need to start providing your employees with more options.
Create private workrooms for when your workers need to focus on a task at hand. You also need to remember that everyone has bad days; when they don’t have the energy to communicate, knowing that they can work in private can encourage them to go to work instead of calling in sick. Make sure to provide them with open and collaborative spaces and meeting rooms for when they need to work on projects together. You also should have break rooms with access to free food and beverages. Having a “fun” area with games, like a pool table or table tennis, can also be a great idea. Cutting off your employees’ thought processes and giving their brains a temporary distraction can allow them to approach tasks and problems with a new and more creative perspective.
Consult an Expert
When you are designing a workspace, the best thing that you can do is consult corporate space designers. Supposing that you decide to learn more at www.spaceandsolutions.com, you will find that field experts have extensive knowledge in human design and color psychology. They can help you set up your space in a way that yields the maximum work output and productivity. Workspace designers can also help you come up with clever storage solutions if you have limited space. Their experience in human factors and ergonomics can allow you to create an office that your employees feel comfortable in.
Better Lighting
Lighting is among the most important factors to consider when it comes to office design and layout. It comes as no surprise that no one can work properly if they can’t see well. Though, don’t go overboard with the lighting. Too much light can be overstimulating and highly distracting. Poor lighting, regardless of whether it’s too dark or too bright, can cause headaches, stress, eye strain, fatigue, and a variety of other problems. Your best bet is to resort to natural light. Natural light is a productivity booster, creativity promoter, and stress reliever. It can help you feel generally happier, which can improve employee satisfaction.
Repaint the Walls
When we think of a boring workspace, an image of a poorly lit bullpen with white walls comes to mind. Come to think of it, the majority of workplaces have white walls; while white walls look polished and clean, making them the perfect choice in many cases, they couldn’t be more unsuitable for a workplace. Colors like white, off-white, and gray are not helpful in terms of productivity. They lack energy and can hinder workers’ morale. Overstimulating colors, such as red and yellow, can evoke intense emotions, making them inappropriate options too. Colors like blue, green, and aqua are great options. Blue evokes emotions of communication and trust, while green can spark innovation and harmony. These are both calm colors that can help boost creativity.
Your employees will only give you as much as they receive; you can’t expect to receive exceptional quality when you provide them with a less-than-ideal workspace. When you show interest in making your employees feel comfortable, they will feel valued, appreciated, and cared for. In return, you will obtain their loyalty, conscientiousness, and overall great quality of work. This is why we collected tips on how to create a comfortable office for your workers.
