Ever felt like your office has a grey miserable feeling about it? Perhaps it's the drab colour, or the way your desk faces the wall. The overall design of your office and how it's more connected to our mood, wellbeing, and productivity can affect you more than you might think.
Why Employee Wellbeing Should Top Your List
Let’s chat about employee wellbeing in the workplace. When we're happy, we're productive. Simple, right? However, what surrounds us in the office plays a massive part in that happiness equation. The right environment can make you feel like you're on cloud 9 or trekking down a dark miserable alley way.
How Workspace Design Boosts Daily Energy
It’s not just about aesthetics. The design of our workspace can play a pivotal role in our daily spirit and enthusiasm. After all, we spend a lot of time there. Hence, promoting employee wellbeing is not just about providing health benefits or launching employee wellbeing programs. It's also about crafting an environment that supports and nurtures wellbeing from every corner.
Crafting an Employee Wellbeing Strategy
The crux of it all? Have a plan! Here's where some employee wellbeing initiatives examples might come handy:
The Green Effect:
Potted plants can spruce up a workspace and clean the air. Plants can actually provide several health benefits that will have positive effects for office workers. The positive aspect is that plants utilise CO2, water, and light through photosynthesis to generate their own energy. Consequently, they lower CO2 levels and, in straightforward terms, help maintain the freshness of the air you inhale.
Let the Sunshine In:
Maximise natural light. Being exposed to natural light aids in the production of Vitamin D within our bodies, enhances our circadian rhythms and sleep quality, boosts our concentration, increases productivity, and contributes to a greater sense of happiness.
Breakout Spaces:
Create relaxed areas for breaks. Think comfy chairs, bean bags, and some delightful mood lighting. Having a breakout space in the office offers several advantages. It boosts employee well-being by providing a dedicated area where the team can relax and recharge during hectic workdays. Additionally, it encourages collaboration among colleagues, fostering creativity and idea-sharing. This setup also contributes to creating a relaxing environment, allowing employees to escape the usual office hustle and bustle.
More Than Aesthetics
Let's be honest. Improving workplace design doesn’t just make for a snazzy Instagram post. Happy employees = productive employees. And beyond numbers, it’s about nurturing a space where everyone feels valued. Open spaces for everyone to use stops departments being segregated, creating a more inclusive environment and a break from company hierarchy.
Tips for a blooming office space
Tip #1: Survey the Troops: Ask your team what changes they’d love to see. Remember these have to be reasonable. Budgets and practicality may not allow that hammock you've always dreamed of beside your desk along with a heat lamp and a personal Maitre D grabbing your refreshments. (If only)!
Tip #2: Small Steps: You don’t need a total overhaul. Start with simple changes like introducing plants or changing lighting If you have access to an outdoor space, could this be spruced up a little and used in the summer months?
Tip #3: Engage and Evolve: This isn’t a one-time gig. Continually seek feedback and be open to tweaking things.
Before you dash off to introduce a mini waterfall in your office, remember, employee wellbeing is a wonderful blend of the environment, culture, and benefits. If you’re a bit baffled about where to start, fear not! KODOBI is here to help. We can assist in reviewing your current adaptations in the workplace and let’s craft spaces that brim with positivity and productivity.
