Office furniture and environment and the way it affects employee productivity.
To make any business successful the goal must be to maximize productivity and efficiency. The main way to achieve this is to have contentatacalzature saldigeox blundstoneprezzi scarpeovye moorecains negozitata andcamiciesaldi donkeyluckycat akuscarpe harmontblainescarpe fracominaoutlet relaxdaysonline harmonte-blaine harmontblainescarpe daysrelax t employees that are happy and comfortable in their work environments. However most business owners/entrepreneurs overlook the smaller things that end up making the biggest differences, some of these seemingly innocuous things, yes you guessed it is the furniture and ambiance. Let’s take a look at some of the problems and their solutions that employers should consider when setting up or redesigning their office spaces!
Zafar Enterprises | Furniture by: Intera
Office Chairs and Desking systems
The first and most important thing to analyze is your employee’s workstation. This includes their office chairs and their desks. What needs to be introduced first and foremost is the concept of ergonomics. The best ergonomic office chairs and desks focus on keeping your employees comfortable as well as healthy. Good lumbar, neck and arm support, seat depth, and seat tilt are key features when selecting an ergonomic office chair. This saves time as employees take shorter breaks to stretch themselves and feel more comfortable as opposed to being confined to an uncomfortably cramped workstation resulting in more saved time i.e. boosting productivity. It is also important to remember that ergonomic furniture results in better blood flow keeping your workforce happier as well as more energetic and productive. It is also worth mentioning that an unfriendly chair or workstation can result in chronic or acute back problems which means less attendance/tardiness due to pain as well as reduced productivity. When it comes to your employee’s desk a few things are crucial. Height and adjustability make all the difference, it’s obvious that one standard size and height is not ergonomic for everyone that’s why it helps for your desk solutions to be customizable and in the best scenario adjustable via hydraulics. This gives your employees the choice to adjust their own desks as well as switch from a standing to a sitting desk throughout the day. All in all the more comfortable and ergonomic the workstation the higher employee satisfaction, and as result productivity.
Setting the correct environment
Next, I would like to address the issue of the environment and surroundings employees are working in. Lighting is a major factor when it comes to worker happiness levels and productivity. Either lighting that is too harsh or lighting that is too dim radically affects worker output and productivity. Harvard conducted a study in which workers have exposed more to outdoor/sunlight and the results were almost unfathomable, the productivity level rose by approximately 70%! Solutions such as solar active sheets on window panes let natural light shine through the office while filtering out the heat as well as any harmful glare or UV rays that might affect the eyes. Another key development in modern office settings is the understanding of biophilia! Biophilia is the innate human tendency to seek closeness to nature. That is why more and more companies are introducing plants and various reeds that can be placed on the floor or hung from the ceiling. It sounds almost laughable but it has drastic effects on employee mood and therefore productivity, a happy employee is far likelier to work harder resulting in more quality and quantity in their output. In addition to this acoustics play a major role in employee health and workability. Some acoustics can help filter out frequencies that workers find distractive such as low-frequency white noise, others can be helpful in elevating the mood leading to a happier more functional work environment.
Color in the work environment
It is no secret that color psychology is real science that can drastically affect humans in a myriad of ways. Understanding this fact and implementing it in the workplace can drastically help employers set the tone for how they want their employees to be feeling whilst at work. An example of this would be choosing more vibrant colors that boost emotions like excitement and enthusiasm as opposed to the standard bleak white boring desk. Employers and designers should aim to use more neutral and positive colors to control and boost employee morale and avoid using tones that are let’s say sleep-inducing. Of course, some organizations such as banks have to maintain a common theme amongst their various locations however why does that theme have to be grey and boring when it could be vibrant and calm at the same time.
Conclusion
With it all said and done, employers should consider the fact that the world is drifting away from modular boxy cubicles and adopting a more open plan for their office setup. They are starting to understand that when an employee feels at home, comfortable and in a positive work environment that is not so rigid, productivity skyrockets! Just look at some of the most innovative brands in the world and their office spaces such as Google, DropBox, Meta, and many many more! One last thing to keep in mind is all these changes don’t have to be astronomically expensive even used or refurbished pieces with the right ergonomics and design aesthetic can take you miles! Add some inexpensive lighting, promote natural light and use color/sound to your advantage and presto change-o you’ll have a more productive, healthier, and happier workforce that actually enjoys being in the environment it’s a win-win!