The office is not simply a space in which work happens, it is an environment that is designed to facilitate work. Just as the office can impact productivity, it can also affect worker wellbeing. Changing your office space to maximize your worker happiness doesn’t have to mean a drastic renovation, even the simplest of changes can have a big impact.
Add Some Greenery
Humans have an innate desire to connect with nature, a phenomenon that scientists call ‘biophilia’. Although humans are born nature lovers, most of us spend the majority of our time inside. There are many reasons why adding plants to your office makes for a happier workspace:
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Plants help reduce stress levels
A study from the University of Technology, Sydney, found that adding plants to an office space bought a range of mental health benefits. The results found a 37% fall in tension and anxiety, a 58% drop in depression, a 44% decrease in anger and hostility, and a 38% reduction in fatigue.
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Plants aid Productivity
Research from the University of Exeter found that adding one plant per square meter improves memory retention and helps boost worker productivity.
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Plants Clean the Air
Plants help to purify the air, removing chemicals that can be particularly beneficial for those working in offices in large cities or areas with high levels of pollution.
Invest in Cleaners
The way that your office looks, particularly how clean your office is, can have a big impact on employee happiness. An office that is regularly cleaned shows employees that you respect and value the space around you and by extension your employees themselves. Holding your physical environment to a high standard is one of the best ways to motivate those using the space to think of themselves highly too. As these commercial cleaners in Hobart say: providing employees with a clean working environment helps them feel more positive about coming to work and boosts productivity.
Create Communal Areas
If your office consists solely of separate desks then you should try to find a way of creating a communal area. A communal space can have a big impact on worker wellbeing and workplace productivity. A communal workspace helps to foster a culture of communication and collaboration. It also helps to break the monotony of the working routine, helping refresh people’s mindsets, enabling individuals to enjoy sustained periods of concentration. Communal working also helps to build a sense of camaraderie within the office, allowing people to feel more supported at work.
Increase Natural Light
If you are able to increase the amount of natural light in your office you should definitely do so. Increasing the amount of natural light in a workspace can offer many benefits, such as improving the quality of life and the health of office workers.
Communicate with Staff
If you are trying to make the office a happier place for your members of staff then why not go straight to the source. Ask your employees what could be done to the office to make them feel happier while they are at work. If your employees are not forthcoming with their suggestions try leaving out a comments box. Even if nothing comes of this it at least shows your employees that you are thinking about them and value their wellbeing.
CONVERSATION