Does Office Design Affect Employee Productivity and Well-being?
Over the past 20 years, we have seen some major changes in the office space. In the 1990s, office cubicles are the thing. Everyone is squeezed into a small office space with narrow pathways leading to different cubicles. Workers try to personalize their cubicles, often putting up photos of families and trips on the walls. But by the 2000s, office spaces started to veer toward an open floor plan. This allows for more collaboration. By 2015, things have drastically changed. Organizations put up ping pong tables, margarita corners, and video game arcades in the employee lounge.
The change was because of the employees’ demand for balance. As the new generation of employees become more demanding, organizations started to shape up and address the many burgeoning problems in the workforce. So, while trends come and go in the office space, one thing remains true: the office design and environment have a huge impact on employee productivity and well-being. It is also essential to their work-life balance.
In 2019, a year before the coronavirus pandemic, the Fellowes Workplace Wellness Trend Report showed that 87% of employees wanted their employers to provide healthy workspace benefits. What benefits were these? They wanted modern and ergonomic office furniture because this prevents future health problems. They also demanded a wellness room and healthy lunch options.
One-third of Your Day Is Spent in the Office
Think about this. The average worker spends a third of his time daily inside the office. That only highlights the importance for organizations to foster a healthy working environment. Companies need to empower their people with the right office design, setup, tools, and equipment. These will make collaboration among employees easier.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, offices have been using the open layout design with small conference rooms for private video calls with clients, meetings, and brainstorming sessions. Today, this might still be the most practical office design, though there needs to be more space for distancing and flexible work schedules. Once employees start coming back to the offices again, their needs have shifted and so must the office space.
Comfort Is Key for Employees
A workplace survey showed that 82% of employees are experiencing a degree of physical pain they can associate with sitting/standing too long in the office. Most of them complain about pain in their necks, lower backs, shoulders, and wrists because they spend so much time sitting. A fraction of them said their eyes usually hurt because the office is inadequately lit.
These are the two most important elements of office design pre-pandemic: the furniture and the lighting. And because of the pandemic, ventilation might even be the first factor to consider right now. A well-lit and well-ventilated office space, even before the pandemic, will increase employee satisfaction by 24%. It will also decrease absenteeism, which increases the likelihood of your employees meeting deadlines and such.
Visuals Have a Positive Effect on the Brain
What color do you use for your office design? If you keep using the same old boring colors of gray, brown, and white, you will not have a very productive workforce. Adding a bit of color to your office will boost the mental activity of your employees. It’s okay to have a monochromatic and earthy tone in your office design. However, make sure there are pops of color such as in a wall mural, a nice colorful painting, or some bright-colored office furniture. Green and blue, for example, make for a nice combination as these colors relax and calm employees.
Tools for Collaboration and Productivity
It’s not only important for your employees to have the right ergonomic furniture and office pantry staples and essentials. They need collaborative and productivity tools, too. This can be anything from the right software to printers to copiers to paper shredders to point-of-sale (POS) terminals to bar code scanners. These are critical for high-performing employees to produce quality work.
You may also think about a flexible working arrangement. Though it does not work for everyone, some employees found out they are more productive when they can work from wherever they want. This is especially true for your creative department. You cannot box them in your office and expect fresh ideas from them. You have to allow them to flourish on their own terms.
The success of your business relies on the productivity of your employees. The right office design can bring out the best in your employees. They will also be more loyal to your organization when they realize that you care about their well-being and their happiness.
Meta title: The Impact of Office Space on Productivity and Well-being
meta desc: We have seen some major changes in the office space in the last two decades. We all know that it affects productivity and well-being, but how impactful it is really? Learn more about it here.
