There are a variety of different goals or objectives that business owners and managers may have in mind when designing their office spaces, and one of the most important for many in this position is improving employee well-being and happiness. Having content, comfortable and happy employees leads to greater productivity and success, and your office design can help you achieve this goal in in a few ways.
At Premier Office Design & Furniture, we’re happy to help clients with a wide range of office furniture design project services. What are some simple ways to go about promoting employee well-being through your office design? Here’s a primer.
Ergonomic Features
One of the single most desirable features that employees want in an office these days are ergonomic features. This means having furniture and equipment that is adjustable to each individual’s body size and type, to help them be as comfortable as possible while they work.
For instance, adjustable desks and chairs are a must, as is proper task lighting. If you can provide employees with these things, they’ll be much more content and productive throughout the workday.
When workers are physically comfortable, they naturally feel better and are much more likely to be productive. Promote employee well-being by making ergonomic features a priority in your office design.
Increasing Natural Light
Wherever possible within your office space, try to increase the amount of natural light that comes in. This can be done by adding more windows, skylights or even solar tubes.
Natural light has been shown to have a plethora of benefits for people, both physically and mentally. Studies have shown that it can improve moods, increase productivity and even help with things like seasonal affective disorder. So if you want content and productive employees, let in as much natural light as possible. It’s good for them and good for business.
Personalized Areas
While it may not necessarily be possible for each and every employee of a large company to have their own office, there are ways to give them a bit more personalization within the space.
One way to do this is by using partitions or cubicle walls that are shorter than average. This way, employees will still have some privacy, but they won’t feel so isolated from the rest of the team.
Another option is to allow employees to personalize their own workspace with things like pictures, plants or other items that make them feel at home. By giving them a space that they can truly call their own, you’ll help promote a greater sense of well-being.
Allowing employees to have some control over their work environment is a great way to promote employee well-being.
Fresh Air
Down similar lines as our natural light point above, it’s also important to make sure that there is a good amount of fresh air circulating throughout the office. This means opening windows on a regular basis, as well as using fans or other ventilation systems as needed.
Fresh air has been shown to improve moods, focus and even energy levels, so it’s vital for promoting employee well-being.
Sensory Engagement
If you’re looking to really dig down into the psychology behind employee well-being, then you need to start considering things like sensory engagement. This is the idea of using different senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, taste) to create a certain feeling or environment within the office.
For example, you might use calming colors and patterns throughout the space to help promote relaxation. Or you could fill the office with inspiring artwork to help get employees’ creative juices flowing.
You could also use things like scented candles or diffusers to fill the air with calming aromatherapy scents, or install a water feature to provide a soothing soundscape.All of these things can help promote employee well-being by creating a more positive and pleasant work environment.
Collaborative Spaces
For many offices, having some sort of collaborative space is becoming more and more important. This could be a dedicated meeting room, or simply an open area where employees can gather to work on projects together.
The reason for this is that collaboration has been shown to lead to greater creativity and productivity. It also helps promote a sense of camaraderie and team spirit, which can do wonders for employee morale.
So if you want content and productive employees, make sure to include some collaborative spaces in your office design. It’ll be good for business.
Privacy Still Matters, Too
This may seem a bit strange to talk about right after we were discussing an open concept, but achieving a proper balance of privacy and collaboration is important for employee well-being. While it’s important to have some collaborative spaces, it’s also vital to have areas where employees can go to focus on their work without constant interruption.
This could be something as simple as booths or cubicles with high walls, or even just a few quiet corners where people can go to get away from the hustle and bustle for a bit. No matter what, it’s important to remember that employees need both collaboration and privacy to be content and productive.
As you can see, there are a variety of different office design concepts that can promote employee well-being. By focusing on things like natural light, fresh air and sensory engagement, you can create a work environment that is conducive to contentment, creativity and productivity. So if you’re looking to get the most out of your employees, make sure to keep these concepts in mind.
For more on this, or to learn about any of our office furniture or related services, speak to the team at Premier Office Design & Furniture today.
