WORKPLACE
Workplace design is key to business success.
HAPPY AND HEALTHY EMPLOYEES
By designing workplaces where employees are happy and healthy, we are at the same time designing spaces where employees are more engaged and more productive.
WORKPLACE DESIGN
Research shows that employees who are highly satisfied with various aspects of their workplace also demonstrate high levels of engagement. They are more productive and more inclined to stay in their job than people who are dissatisfied with their offices.
Employee engagement and productivity is linked closely to the quality of the offices they occupy. Workplace design should be considered carefully to support a happy, satisfied and productive workforce.
The fundamentals for a good workplace are fresh air, natural light, comfortable temperatures and low noise levels. However, we can do much more than meet basic needs to create great workplaces where people thrive.
PROVIDE DIVERSITY
A diverse workspace increases the number of choices an employee has during their workday. It supports focus and concentration, spurs spontaneous collaboration and fosters a greater sense of ownership over work.
Create workplaces with shared spaces, where people come together as well as private spaces, where individuals may seek tranquility.
MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME
Aesthetics that prompt associations to positive experiences and memories of feeling comfort, safety, relaxation and joy, spur positive emotional and physical reactions in the brain that foster increased well-being.
Use workplace design to create associations to the home and places of comfort and well-being.
COMMUNICATE POSITIVE VALUES
A workplace needs to welcome, resonate and connect with employees. It needs to have a human touch and to authentically communicate values that are relevant to employees’ experience of being accepted as humans rather than merely resources. Values such as tolerance, empathy and respect for individual needs and preferences.
INTEGRATE NATURE
The psychological benefits of ‘naturalness’ in our physical surroundings is widely documented. The sensory qualities in nature, as well as natural materials, have been found to improve mood, attention and cognitive functioning.
Use wood natural stone, plants and perhaps a fireplace to integrate nature into workplace design.
MAKE SPACE FOR TRANQUILITY
People prioritise their physical and mental health more than ever. The need for spaces that alleviate stress, soothe anxiety and promote health is more urgent than ever as work flows throughout the open spaces of most workplaces.
Solutions that safeguard the need for focus, privacy and relaxation are crucial.
FOSTER COMMUNITY
Feeling part of a community is crucial to performance and wellbeing. Workplaces should have qualities that make people want to be there – not just because they have to, but because they like it there.
Blur the line between working and socializing. Give spaces a relaxed feel. Encourage a sense of community. And allow people to meet, work or have a drink together.
