Embracing healthy workplace design and practices is more than simply a positive thing to do—there’s a lot to be gained for your employees and your bottom line. Not only do healthy business practices have long-term cost effectiveness, but they also offer better work conditions and can help make your business appeal to a larger consumer base. In this article, we’ll discuss how updating your office space with healthy workplace design will affect the entire chain of your organization.
Healthier Companies are More Marketable
Prospective employees are becoming increasingly aware of health in workplace, work-life balance and values of the companies they work for. By showing that your organization cares about the health of its employees, or even the products you sell, your branding yourself as a better company all around.
Not only do healthier companies attract more employees, but they also attract better publicity. Companies with healthy workplace design are known to be more creative, more forward-thinking, and revolutionary.
By actively highlighting the wellness initiatives in your workspace design, consumers can see how these values are ingrained in the fibre of your organization. A healthier work environments can be a key differentiator that helps you attract a whole new consumer base.
Healthier Companies Are More Profitable
A growing amount of evidence is showing that investing in workplace wellness programs are better for a company’s bottom line. Employees spend the majority of their waking hours at work, so any program that supports the health of employees directly affects performance and attendance.
A healthy staff needs fewer sick days, meaning you’re less likely to find yourself being short staffed or having to pay overtime to compensate for missing employees. This can often turn into a cycle of having to call-in employees that should have a day off, resulting in more sick days.
Healthy Workplace Design is More Attractive to Employees and Clients
If you want to demonstrate that your company is progressive and able to keep up with innovative new companies and rising competition, then keeping up with healthy design is a good starting point.
More and more, office design is placing an emphasis on wellbeing, which is something employees look for when deciding where they want to work, or how long they want to stay with a company. Clients are also making choices on where to take their business, and having healthy workplaces can be a contributing factor when making those decisions.
Healthier Workspaces Improve Staff Productivity.
Healthier employees tend to work better together, report less office drama, and less stress and tension. Workforces that provide in-house means of stress-relief (like good quality break rooms or on-site gyms) often have lower employee turnover rates.
By using ergonomic furniture and bringing in plants, natural light, and better air quality, it creates a safer, healthier environment that cuts down on sick time and increases productivity. Research shows plants in the office significantly increased workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration, and perceived air quality.
The World Green Building Council identified eight key factors in creating healthier and greener offices. Of those eight, two involved interior layout and appearance. Visual appeal alone is a major factor in workplace satisfaction and productivity.
How an Office Design Company Helps Create a Healthier Workspace:
So how does an office fit-out create healthier workspaces? And what can you do to incorporate it into your current location? Here are some factors that will bring the biggest advantages for employees and clients:
Better Air Quality
Rooms filled with running computers and other electronics can make the air feel a bit “stagnant” and unwelcoming if air circulation is poor. You can increase the air quality by introducing plants, keeping windows cracked, using air purifiers and humidifiers, or by using better ventilation. Open floorplans are another way of keeping air circulating in healthy workplace design.
Even just “perceived” better air quality with the addition of plants or open windows has been shown to boost productivity and workplace satisfaction.
Natural Lighting
The design of your office environment should take into consideration how natural light is being used. We know that natural light increases workplace performance, but also plays a large role in getting a good night’s sleep. Office design companies know how to create spaces that take advantage of natural light sources and install adequate white light.
Comfortable Seating
Ergonomic furniture and comfortable seating is another important aspect of healthy workspace design. Whether you want flexible workstations that can adjust to accommodate sitting or standing or better back support, an office fitout company can source furniture that can be customized to your needs.
Aside from ergonomics, you can install sectionals and sofas to use while holding group discussions or collaborative sessions. A more comfortable and approachable atmosphere is more likely to get everyone engaged.
Eco-friendly materials
Using recycled or materials such as sustainable wood recycled glass can be both trendy, attractive, and affordable alternatives that increase the eco-friendliness of your workspace. These materials produce fewer VOCs (Volatile organic compounds). Some popular sustainable materials include:
- Bamboo
- Cork
- Recycled glass
- Low VOC paint and finishes
- Plantation teak
As you can see, there’s a lot to be gained from healthier workspaces. Not only do they benefit the people who work at your company, but it boosts productivity, decreases expenses, and is better for your image. Changed towards safer and healthier workplaces do not need to be done all at once. Small, incremental changes can be a cost effective and impactful benefit to your organization as a whole.
