Designing to Have a More Productive Office
The workplace has a huge impact on how people work – on their ability to stay focused and their overall efficiency. This makes it important for you, as an employer, to pay attention to the layout and arrangement of your premises. It’s involves more than just following Feng Shui teachings though; it’s about helping your staff to get things done. So, check the following suggestions to see where you can make changes and how you can go about them.
A huge no-brainer but can easily increase organisation and productivity levels. While it can be a bit of a challenge to enforce a “clean workstation” policy, you can encourage employees to go paperless by scanning documents and communicating digitally. It also pays to invest in quality workplace storage, especially when you run an engineering firm or other company requiring the use of hand tools and equipment.
Obviously, no one is going to be efficient when they are suffering from aching bodies due to improperly adjusted chairs or screens. Thus, consider giving everyone the freedom to tweak their desks as long as they won’t end up distracting their colleagues. Have them pay special attention to the heights of the table and monitors so their thighs remain parallel to the floor and their upper arms are perpendicular to the ground.
- Improve room temperature and air quality
Though most businesses set their thermostats to around 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s advisable to go a bit higher for the sake of productivity. You can ask for input from your staff on the ideal temp for them, if you want. On the topic of heating and air conditioning, you should make sure to get only the best to install and maintain your AC and ventilation systems so they will last.
What people see around them can have an effect on their brain function and moods. This is why you should choose the right shades for your walls and other key aspects. Go for yellow, for instance, to inspire creativity. Green is a great option when you want something calming. Bear in mind not to go overboard though. Balance things out with contrasting hues and some patterns here and there. Scatter decorative items, such as paintings or framed photos, too.
Well, this certainly goes against what has been trending the past few years. The thing is that it’s been discovered that an open layout can often make workers feel less satisfied of their working environment. Why? It’s simply because of the lack of privacy. This is why you should think about going for cubicles, but maybe those with unique borders so they won’t feel too constricting. You could incorporate your workplace storage units into your plans to make the most of the space.
Even the most well-meaning bosses overlook the importance of office design in employee efficiency. However, this shouldn’t be the case with your workplace if you want to see great results from your people. Set yourself apart from other businesses by following the points discussed above.
