Interior Design and Employee Productivity

Shopping malls are flooded with last minute shoppers, airports are overloaded with travellers and public parking is a race for survival- welcome to the holiday madness. As the end of the year approaches employees are starting to show true burnout and are in need of a well deserved break! A recent Gallup study of nearly 7,500 full-time employees found that 23 percent reported feeling burned out at work very often or always, while an additional 44 percent reported feeling burned out sometimes. The employees are the fundamental key to a successful business and therefore need to be taken care of.

As a result, we’ve put together a list of 3 great interior design tips to make your employees more productive in 2019!

“Feels Like Home”

A recent survey by comparison site, Love Energy Savings, reveals that 44 percent of people prefer to work from home rather than going into the office.

It’s time for employers to start allocating attention towards creating an office space that feels like home.

• Plants – They reduce anxiety, depression and anger. After speaking to an unsatisfied customer, or a dealing with a vendor screw up, having a plant around can definitely bring up the positive energy!
• Textures and Surfaces- Your goal is to have warm, natural surfaces, textiles and carpets designed to counter the old school, cold and sterile office environment. Nothing screams home more than a fluffy carpet.
• Furniture – Who doesn’t like being comfy? Having a wide variety of furniture to make each working area within the office unique helps significantly. No one wants to see bulk orders of identical system furniture anymore.  Step away from the repetitive boring office furniture to a more unique and cozy variety of options.
• Food – 67% of full time employees with access to free food at work are “extremely or Very”  happy at their current work place. Create an office space where employees can go grab a snack and unwind for a little bit.

Ergonomics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent data, in 2013 these ergonomic related injuries accounted for 380,600, or one-third, of days-away-from-work cases. This equals 15 – 20 Billion dollars that worker compensation expenses cost. Now to save yourself any unnecessary costs, here’s how you can make your office more ergonomic.

• Standing More – Physical activity is the key. Have employees stand up, move around and be physically active. Maybe even look into getting a few standing desks!
• Your Chairs – Make sure the chairs you use have a comfy cushion, arm rest, adjustable seat height, adjustable backrest height, lumbar support and the ability to swivel and turnaround. If employees are expected to be seated throughout the day, they deserve comfort.
• Lighting –  Lighting in an office should never be overlooked. It contributes both to comfort and energy in an office. Try using dim lighting, window covers, table lamps and natural light. These tricks help stabilize energy and shift away from the corporate lighting feel.

Unwinding Spaces

Fun is important. Make sure your employees have the right space to relax during the day in order for them to be more productive. Here are some cool recreational space ideas you can use in your office.

• Game Rooms – Sit down, relax, play some PS4 or Ping Pong. Having a game room in the office is a great way for employees to relax for 30 minutes to an hour. This is not only great for productivity but also team building.
• Gym – Hitting the gym is healthy, and you know it. But where do professionals find the time of day to go? By having a wellness program or gym inside your office, your employees are encouraged to be active and improve overall health. Healthy employees are happy employees.
• Rejuvenation Rooms – Sometimes everyone needs a power nap…  A room with sleeping pods and couches helps employees to relax, rejuvenate and unwind. After a half hour here, they’re back at work focused and more productive.

At the end of the day, a company’s main objective is to grow. To achieve growth, a company needs to ensure that their employees are working efficiently and effectively. By following these tips and tricks for 2019, your employees will feel better and work better. This helps companies expand successfully while ensuring the happiness of their employees.