How Can Office Design Affect The Way You Work and Employee Wellbeing
It may be hard to believe, but the design and layout of an office can have a significant effect on the way we work and employee wellbeing. Generally speaking, work routines and setups have changed a lot over the last couple of years and ‘office life’ has evolved somewhat. However, the need for a comfortable, well-designed space that boosts office productivity remains in order to provide a healthy working environment. Your employees are likely to spend a good amount of time in the office, so it’s essential that the environment provided is a positive one. ‘
What do we mean by Office Design?
Office design isn’t just about office furniture. It encompasses various aspects, including the layout, space, workspaces, furniture, equipment and facilities. Each of these aspects play a role in creating a conducive environment for employees to work and collaborate.
| Office Layout | The layout of an office determines the grouping of equipment, furniture and functional working spaces. It also can have an impact on the productivity and collaboration efforts of a team. For example, an open-plan office can encourage open communication and collaboration, whereas a closed-plan office offers more privacy and focus. It is important to consider the specific needs of your business and employees when reviewing the layout of the office. Perhaps it makes sense to provide spaces for both collaborative and solo working, for example; all of which is possible with the right office design. |
| Office Space and Workspaces | The physical space of your office and the designed workspaces within it all play a crucial role in encouraging office productivity. For instance, an office with ample natural light and greenery can boost employee well-being and create a calm environment. When it comes to dedicated workspaces within the office space, the workplace design also plays a big part. For example, creating dedicated workspaces for different tasks, such as private spaces for meetings or collaborative areas for more ad-hoc discussions. These are all key areas of office design to offer healthier workspace benefits. |
| Office Furniture, Equipment and Facilities | Finally, what goes into these office spaces also forms part of the overall office design and therefore has an impact on productivity and well-being. Providing employees with ergonomic furniture, high-quality equipment, and modern facilities helps them to feel comfortable and motivated to work. |
How can Office Design Affect Employee Productivity?
Office design encompasses several aspects of the office space, and it all has the potential to determine whether you have a productive office space. Here are some ways in which office design can affect the way we work.
Office Atmosphere and Culture
Office atmosphere and company culture are often top priorities for employees when choosing where to work, but the design of that office can play a part in that atmosphere. Factors such as lighting, colour schemes and decor can all affect employees’ mood and motivation, which in turn, can impact productivity.
Moving Around the Office
The layout and flow of an office can affect how we work. As an employer, implementing agile working spaces can help to highlight the performance of your team by reducing distractions and offering areas that are supportive to the task they are working on. Making your office well-organised and easy to navigate promotes efficiency and helps your team to get things done.
Employee Relationships, Satisfaction and Wellbeing
As mentioned above, office design can help to encourage collaboration among teams but it can also help foster positive relationships within an office environment. When designing an office space, it’s important to consider how it contributes to your business’ culture and priorities. Are there quiet spaces and individual meeting rooms? Do individual employees have the option of a private workspace? Particularly in the age of at-home working, the benefits of working in an office need to be bigger than ever. Providing a space for your employees to work positively together and spend time together is important in order to affect productivity.
For example, incorporating some greenery or natural elements into the space can help to reduce stress and enhance employee well-being, and offering amenities such as private rooms or outdoor spaces can help staff to feel appreciated and provided for.
Does your Office Space need a Redesign?
After reading how much an office design can affect the way we work, you may be considering a re-design of your space in order to provide a flexible workspace for your office workers. If that is the case, our team can help. Get in touch to discuss your needs and we can talk you through the options available to you.