After two years of remote work, many businesses are returning to full-time or hybrid work. However, the transition from working in pajamas with your dog beside you at home to commuting into the office to work in a more formal environment can negatively impact some workers’ well-being. This is especially true if your workspace design wasn’t created with your workers’ health in mind.
In order to boost productivity and employee satisfaction, consider these small changes and bigger renovations that create healthy and productive environments.
Workers Want Healthier Environments
According to the Fellowes Workplace Wellness Trend Report, an overwhelming majority (87%) of workers would like their current employer to offer healthier workspace features, such as wellness rooms, company fitness facilities, standing desks, healthy lunch options, and ergonomic seating.
The survey also found that employees of newer companies were less likely (34%) to be turned down when asking for in-office benefits, such as standing desks. These newer companies might be on to something as 93% of workers in the tech industry said they would stay longer at a company that offered a healthier workspace.
The call for better work environments has led sought after companies to consider how to design their spaces for hybrid work as well. ROOM, a company creating office furniture, has developed the “phone booth”, a sound-proofed, ventilated, powered office area. The booth gives employees a place to take a video call or work uninterrupted. By creating offices designed for hybrid work–and giving employees the option to work from home some days–you can retain top talent and see increased productivity from your workers.
When companies create environments that empower people to work comfortably, teams tend to collaborate more, think of more innovative measures, and be more productive.
How to Make Open-Plan Spaces Work
Many offices today are open plan and the open plan layout can be fantastic. But to be effective, they must be implemented correctly. While employees like the open plan concept, they still need some private spaces to take calls and to work in peace and quiet in addition to the comfortable areas that foster collaboration. It’s important to design office spaces with different environments to maximize employee wellbeing.
Additional Resources
Many businesses recognize office design as a valuable investment. To get ideas about how to make office design more effective, consider following the guidelines of WELL Building Standard, an international organization which has established standards that help create productive and comfortable indoor environments.
Administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), and certified by Green Business Certification Inc., the WELL Building Standard is the first organization that focuses on human health and wellbeing in the design, construction, and operations of buildings. According to the IWBI, the most effective workplace designs consider air quality, lighting, views of nature, and the general layout of the interior.
These factors significantly impact the health, satisfaction, wellbeing, and productivity of workers. The WELL Building Standard establishes seven concepts of building performance: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.
While the WELL Building standard is a great resource, your best resource is already in your office: your employees. Ask your team to envision what sort of office space they’d like to work in and implement feedback whenever the budget and your timeline for renovation projects allows.
By embracing these concepts, companies can design office spaces that attract and retain top talent. A healthy workspace allows you to increase the bottom line, support employee well-being, and get more innovative and creative solutions from your team.
Carlton Building Services in Hampton Roads Virginia
Carlton Building Services specializes in repairs, maintenance, renovations, remodelings and build-outs for a variety of clients in Hampton Roads, Virginia. We have years of experience handling projects in the retail, office, and healthcare space and would love to work with you on your next project!
To learn more about our services, check out past project highlights or contact Carlton Building Services to see how we can help with your next project.
