There has been a lot of transformation in the last two decades when you look at the modern offices we have around and what they used to be then. Offices now have open floor plans and other interesting features. More innovative ideas keep pouring in on office designs and the end products have lots of impact on the health and wellbeing of employees. Research shows that quality workspace designs lead to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere and this is the reason why employers keep finding ways to make the office space more conducive. After all, the productivity of the company largely depends on the employees’ effectiveness at their desks.
Lighting
When an environment is not bright enough, it makes you strain your eyes to see. This can be very discomforting for the employees and it would hamper their effectiveness at their desks. A study conducted by the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell showed that employees that sit within 10 feet of a window reported an 84% decrease in eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision symptoms. Employers need to factor in an effective lighting system within the office space so that the employees can work without straining their eyes. Also, there is this energy that comes with a bright environment. It swings the mood the work way.
Colors
One of the things an employer can do to improve employee well-being is by selecting a mixture of colors that would make the employees feel more relaxed. Studies have shown that color choices have the ability to influence a person’s mood, energy level, and productivity. University of Texas conducted one of such studies, finding that colors like beige, bland gray, and white when used for offices could induce feelings of sadness and depression in women. On the other hand, blue, and green are said to relieve feelings of stress. Brighter colors such as red and orange can help supply energy and dynamism to the employees.
Neatness, tidiness, and acquiring more space
There is no way your mental well-being won’t be affected if every morning, you resume to a dirty office environment. Employees do not thrive well in an untidy office also. Working in a dirty office can expose the employees to several germs that are risky to their health. It is agreed that you may have a health insurance scheme for them but what about the regular sick leaves you would have to give a nod to? I am sure you know that regular non-availability of staff can hurt the business.
A tidy arrangement of things that are here and there helps create more space. You can rent office spaces to achieve the space creation too. This is a norm in the U.S. with office spaces in Atlanta, New York City, Washington, and many more. I had a good working experience once at an office space in Nashville. It was a very neat and tidy environment and it sure helped my psyche to focus on my job. Keeping a clean and tidy office space doesn’t take much but it goes a long way in keeping employees mentally alert and physically healthy to take on their job activities effectively.
Air quality
Research carried out by the World Green Building Council recorded an 11% increase in the productivity of employees as a result of increased fresh air in the workplace and a reduction in pollutants. A stuffy office can be caused by several things like bad HVAC equipment, a dirty environment, or a lack of air filtration systems. You can take measures to freshen the air around the office space by developing green cleaning protocols, keeping the office clutter-free, installing air filtration systems, maintaining a healthy level of humidity, and implementing a no-smoking policy. The use of plants to cleanse the air of pollutants and deposit more oxygen in it is also a good option. Besides, the presence of the plants in the environment brings a feeling of calmness to the employees which is a plus.
Workout sections
The importance of exercising at the office shouldn’t be taken for granted. Within the office space, a section can be created to represent a gym area. Some gym equipment like dumbbells, resistance bands, stationary bicycles, skipping ropes, and other small gym equipment can be bought for the gym. A gym area with some gym equipment would encourage the staff to visit the facility and work out their tired body systems. Exercising refreshes the brain and muscles, keeping the mental well-being of your employees in good shape.
Final word
Very good workplace designs influence good health, mental well-being, employee satisfaction, and performance. Employers take their office space layout seriously since they are aware of the impact on their employees. It may look like unnecessary spending when you are restructuring the office to suit the needs of your employees but you are in fact making a very good investment by boosting the chances of improved productivity of your employees. This will bring in more profits to you than your expended finances.
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