Did you know that an efficient office design or remodeling can increase productivity? Every day businesses are encouraging their employees to be more productive. But, if your office is not efficiently designed, how can your employees be more productive?
Workplace productivity is about getting the job done in the most efficient way. In the process of designing an office, there is an impact on an employee’s workspace. It is often overlooked when it comes to productivity. Whether it’s the lightning or efficient desk setup. We gathered a few tips that will help design your office to be more efficient for your staff.
Efficient Office Design
An office reflects not only how you work but also the energy of the space. Your office design is more than just separating departments into areas. You don’t want to have new clients walking through an area of messy files or the kitchen to get to a conference room. Your office design must foster collaboration, inspire creativity and increase efficiency. Ask your staff questions before you design the office and get their feedback.
Are there a lot of workstations located near high-traffic areas where people gather? Consider rearranging the furniture to put workstations closer to windows, or farther from stairs and elevators. In a larger, open space room, section off some parts for conversation, and other areas for workspaces.
Are noise levels appropriate? Installing your printers and copiers in places where noise is an issue is not a smart idea. Research shows productivity drops as much as 66% in a chaotic room filled with background noise. Do employees have somewhere quiet to go where they can concentrate? If employees don’t have an assigned workstation, create an area for them to work. Private workstations can give employees a place that shuts out the noise.
Vending machines with healthy snacks can also improve an employee’s experience, too, as well as their health. It’s unfortunate if someone wants an apple for a mid-afternoon snack but is forced to choose between a candy bar or a bag of potato chips.
Office Technology Improvements
Technology today enables businesses to connect and collaborate faster and more efficiently. The more technology you can place in the office, the better. Use technology to improve workspaces so that they are more efficient and employee-friendly.
Standing desks have gained a lot of momentum in offices over the past few years. The act of standing or alternating between sitting and standing is known for helping some workers remain more alert and productive throughout the day. Sitting too much is bad for your health. This is a major problem for office workers because they sit down for most of the day. Fortunately, standing desks are becoming increasingly more popular.
Big screen TVs are replacing projectors. Chromecast and Apple TV are making it easier for your clients and employees to quickly connect their laptops for PowerPoint presentations. And video conferencing and webinars are easy to join through an app. Mounting multiple television screens may seem like a cool idea, but it may be distracting to some employees. Keep the TV screens in the conference room and a smaller one in the reception area. You may want to consider going wireless on some connected devices to keep the cords to a minimum.
Another solution for making conference rooms even smarter would be for an employee to walk into a room and say “Connect to the video conference with our Chicago office”. Amazon’s Alexa for Business allows workers to multitask by using their voice to manage calendars, tasks, and data requests. It also aims to streamline IT requests, conference calls, ordering supplies, and reporting problems with the building.
Smartphones, tablets and other gadgets can help you stay organized and efficient. But they can also lead to a lot of wasted time. Studies have found that smartphones negatively affect daily productivity. A recent survey found that office workers spend nearly five hours a week doing tasks on their mobile devices unrelated to work. That’s more than half a workday. Encourage your employees to keep the devices in a designated place while they work so they won’t be sidelined by a constant stream of notifications.
Add Natural Light and Fresh Air
Study after study has shown natural light helps employee engagement. Are the windows in your office building big enough? Are skylights an option to let in more light? Do you keep the blinds open or closed?
Nothing hampers productivity like a poorly lit room. If you have windows but they’re covered up, open the blinds. Eye strain and headaches caused by fluorescent lighting contribute to absenteeism and overall lower productivity in employees.
Recycled air is another contributor to employee sickness and absenteeism. Plants contribute to a cleaner, better quality air. Greenery exchanges bad air for good, and it has the added bonus of providing employees with an atmosphere of calm and peace. Biophilic office spaces are on the rise with good reason.
Being mindful of the office design changes that impact employees’ wellbeing, such as workspaces and natural light, to the smaller and meaningful updates like healthier food options, is the difference between a lackluster workforce and an energized one. Happy employees are more productive employees.
If your business is looking for a new office design or remodeling, contact Albrite Building at 630.655.9436.