Considering that employees spend anywhere from 6 to 10 hours at their place of work, it is crucial for their working conditions and atmosphere to be adequate. Sitting in uncomfortable chairs and squinting at the screen can cause headaches, back pain, eye soreness, and can also heavily influence their ability to concentrate, as well as their efficiency.
A workspace your employees need, no matter if it’s an office, warehouse or any other type of space, is not only one filled with gadgets and motivational posters but one that is optimal for both their physical and mental health. You needn’t strive to please everybody but you definitely need to maintain some health standards, so with that in mind, here are a few essential elements to consider which will positively influence your employees’ well-being.
Plants improve air quality and boost mood
Besides pups and kittens, plants are the next best mood lifters you can introduce to your office space. First and foremost, they improve air quality, which is especially essential in spaces that you cannot ventilate by opening the windows. Besides that, studies have shown that employees are 15% more productive in offices with house plants because they motivate them to actively engage with their surroundings rather than just sit and type in silence.
Plants reduce anxiety and stress levels and when it comes to the choice which plants to purchase, it is important to take into account the amount of light you can provide them with or, otherwise, you might find quite a few employees comparing themselves to the withered plant.
Open-plan layout prompts collaboration
Open-plan spaces might not be applicable for all businesses but for those which rely on the collaboration between team members, it is the optimal solution. Every idea, misunderstanding, and tasks can be shared or resolved on the spot which makes the teams more efficient and the projects completed faster.
Naturally, these kinds of offices can be loud at times but you can establish some rules together with your employees so that perhaps if more than two or three people have something to discuss, they can go to the conference room or determine a time during the day when these kinds of collaborative impromptu meetings are welcome. Also, it would be the best if those working together sit desk to desk so that they can make use of this proximity and not send emails back and forth.
Proper lighting supports wakefulness
If your work space is abundant in natural light, all you need are blinds to regulate glare and your employees will see properly and won’t be drowsy throughout the day. However, you would have to combine artificial and natural lighting as most spaces have to because of their work schedules.
Each employee needs to get enough light so every workstation needs to have proper overhead lighting. This is especially important in warehouses and other industrial rooms where people don’t work with bright screens all the time. Luckily, there are specially designed industrial warehouse LED fixtures that provide every employee with optimal work conditions. Of course, all such lights are made up to lighting, safety, cleanliness and installation codes in order to keep everyone safe. If the lighting is insufficient, the employees will have problems reading and concentrating, and they might also report eye soreness and back pain from leaning over their work.
Well-equipped workspace motivates creativity
Depending on your business niche, a ‘well-equipped’ workspace can mean many things but it doesn’t necessarily mean over-the-top devices and software tools that employees might not even use. Work tools should facilitate workers’ daily tasks and not complicate their lives with unnecessary and lengthy procedures.
A well-equipped workspace is also equipped with ergonomic chairs, desks, and keyboards which protect your employees’ health. Also, it can include the little things (which actually mean a lot on a psychological level) such as handy branded notebooks you can give each employee as a gift. You can have this token of attention bearing your logo made hassle-free, and besides making the employees feel more like a part of the team, they might also be inspired for great ideas and solutions.
Quiet rooms help employees to recharge
Sometimes your employees have a lot on their mind with a deadline looming in and they need a few quiet moments to regain their composure. Taking a break is generally the healthiest way to deal with stress so if they have time for a quick break, it would be best for you to provide them with space where they can rest in silence or think about something other than work.
Depending on the available space, you can offer them one room, preferably with a lot of natural light they can use to unwind. You can have some plush armchairs for them to relax their muscles or even a sofa they can rest for a few minutes. The colors of the walls shouldn’t be too bright but calming and these few moments spent in silence will help them recharge their batteries and get ready to go back to the task and nail it.
Wrapping up
To achieve the best possible results, your employees need proper lighting, ergonomic furniture and airy, fresh spaces (a stuffy room will not have a positive effect on their wakefulness). If you provide them with a space where they can communicate their ideas quickly or recharge their batteries, you will soon see a large increase in productivity and employee satisfaction.
About the author: Lilly Miller is a freelance writer, who focuses on the latest business trends, commercial design, and environmental issues. She also loves to experiment on daring new home decor trends and write about it as a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator blog. Settled in Sydney for the time being, Lilly shares home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney. You can find her hanging out on Twitter.