You know what they say, happy employees make happy customers! And make no mistake, happy employees are also more productive. So, if you have noticed a decrease in your employees’ productivity, it may be time to update your office environment. Here is how to improve your office environment for your employees:
Provide a healthy office environment
Nowadays, employees spend over 50% of their time at their workplace and that environment has a major impact on their performance. No one would like to work in a place where they don’t feel safe and comfortable. So, it isn’t rocket science to realize how a healthy environment is paramount for productive employees.
Over the last several years, there have been many studies that prove that the overall office environment has a powerful impact on employee productiveness. Office trends come and go but one thing that never changes is the fact that a wellness environment has a huge impact on employee health, wellbeing, and productivity, keeping the office clean and tidy from top to bottom can improve both the mental health and productivity of your employee’s, including having a commercial carpet cleaning services in Des Moines, IA coming in once a week to make everything look and feel perfect.
According to a survey from the Fellowes, 87% of employees from all industries claim that they would like their current employees to provide them with healthier workplace opportunities and benefits. But what does a healthier workplace really mean?
If you dive deeper into finding what are the factors that create a healthy work environment, you will notice that it all comes to elements that contribute to any individual’s health. We are talking about fresh air, good quality drinkable water, healthy nutrition options, sunlight, comfort, and fitness. So, what changes can you bring to your office environment to improve it?
You can start by creating a clean environment where there is always fresh air and water. Next, you need to make sure that the environment is comfortable and doesn’t affect your employees’ health. For example, if your employees are sitting all day long in front of their computers, make sure you provide them with ergonomic office equipment to prevent back or neck health problems.
Another factor that impacts your employees’ health and wellbeing, and ultimately, their productivity, is an office that promotes mental wellbeing. You can optimize your employee’s emotional health with strategies such as adding natural features, social spaces, and a design that promotes coziness.
Create a comfortable office environment
The next step you may want to invest in is creating a comfortable environment. We are talking about an environment where the temperature is suitable for your employees to work in. For example, would you be able to work and be productive in an office where the temperatures are very low or too high? Most probably not.
So, during the cold season, you need to make sure that you create a warm and cozy office with the warm floor option which also doesn’t take any space from your office and insulates the office very well. On the other hand, during the hot season, you need to make sure that your office is equipped with an efficient AC system that can keep the environment cool and comfortable.
Create a meeting room
It is common knowledge that teamwork is way better than individual work because more minds can generate more ideas that together lead to innovation. So, a meeting space that promotes collaboration, concentration, confidentiality, and creativity will encourage your employees to meet more often to work as a team. A meeting room can also be the right environment for team building activities, be it games, brainstorming on a work matter, or sharing opinions on how to improve the office environment.
A meeting room can also encourage movement by making your employees stand up from their office chairs once in a while to communicate with their coworkers. Moreover, it can have a significant impact on the mental well being of your employees. Socializing and communicating with their coworkers will lead to better bonding between all your employees.
Use certain colors to increase productivity
According to the psychology of colors, certain colors can have a major impact on employees’ productivity in the office. If your office walls are painted with a dull grey color, that may be affecting the productivity of your employees. According to a recent study from the University of Texas, cold colors such as bland gray, beige, and white can trigger feelings of depression and sadness in employees which results in decreased productivity.
Yet, on the other hand, there are certain colors that stimulate employees’ minds and creativity such as green or a calming shade of blue. Red is also a great choice for office spaces as it triggers alertness and urgency in employees improving their focus and efficiency. Mellow yellow is also a color that promotes optimism and makes employees feel energetic. Moreover, this shade of yellow is believed to be the best choice for boosting creativity which is paramount for creative professionals.
Promote equality
In today’s globalized world, offices are more diverse than ever before. One of the main factors that affect employees’ productivity is feeling like they are treated unequal. It is important to foster an office environment where all employees feel important and are treated equally. All employees must be accepted and treated in the same way regardless of their gender, age, nationality, culture, or personal beliefs.
And, make no mistake, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t reward employees differently depending on their skills and capabilities. It means that you shouldn’t accept unhealthy habits such as bullying, discrimination, or favoring.
Ask for feedback
In today’s business landscape, employee experience has become just as important as the customer experience is. The days when employees were forced to stay at a job no matter how much they disliked it are long gone because now they have a pool of job opportunities to choose from if they are not satisfied with their current employer. And, make no mistake, your employees are no exception to this rule.
So, you must do everything that you can to keep them satisfied and productive. And, one of the best ways to asset how satisfied your employees are is to ask them for feedback. Feedback is the most effective way to determine your strengths and weaknesses as an employer. By giving your employees the chance to tell you what would make them feel happier at their jobs will work in your favor.
Employee productivity is paramount for your business’s success. Happy employees are productive and the other way around. So, improving your overall office environment is paramount if you want to boost employee productivity.