The 21st century workplace has evolved from emphasising practicality and efficiency, to focus on a more human-centric approach, with employee wellbeing at the forefront of an organisation’s agenda.
Following a bumpy period due to the coronavirus pandemic, the requirement for employee satisfaction is now at an all-time high. Organisations worldwide are now opting for a more flexible approach to working, and employees are combining office-based work with home working to aid a good work/life balance.
Many open plan offices are garnished with artificial lighting and plain, clinical walls; the relentless sound of ringing telephones and beeping of technology can be a significant catalyst for stress. It’s fairly easy to understand how productivity is lost when communication is so greatly compromised. Workers may not be able to hear themselves think, much less collaborate. With this in mind, the layout and design of your workspace should be the ultimate backdrop in creating a productive and collaborative area.
Naturally, this isn’t without a few complications. Workspaces are being forced to rethink their existing designs and floor plans to accommodate these changes. By creating a human-centred workspace, you will be ensuring that your workers feel supported and, in turn, productivity levels will heighten.
The essence of collaboration relies heavily on teamwork, and eye-catching, agile office furniture can help to create a positive mood and atmosphere amongst workers. This may seem extreme, but there is a slew of research that demonstrates a correlation between office aesthetics and staff productivity.
There are a number of things you can do to encourage staff wellbeing with the inclusion of specific collaborations areas.
Multi-use facing tables allow staff to engage with each other during discussions and adjustable ergonomic chairs can be utilised by people of all abilities.
