The environment of your office can have a huge impact on how productive your employees are and with that, the success of your company. You’ve probably read about all the cool perks that Silicon Valley companies like Google and Facebook offer their workers. Not only does that office environment help them attract the best workers, but it also motivates everyone there to be successful for the good of the company.
Now, you might not run a business on the scale of Google or Facebook, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some changes you can bring to your office to improve the productivity of your workers.
Here are six ways to improve your office environment.
Bring in natural light
By having an office that has as much access to natural light as possible, you’ll be helping your employees in a myriad of ways. It lifts everyone’s mood and is more natural to the body but perhaps the most intriguing effect is that natural light exposure increases the quality of sleep. By ensuring that your employees have as much access to natural light as possible throughout their working day, you’ll be helping them get a good night’s sleep. Workers who aren’t tired are going to be more productive.
Get the temperature right
Your employees won’t be at their most productive if they’re sweltering in a heat wave. Likewise, they are unlikely to be able to concentrate on work if they’re shivering away and their brains are more concerned with how cold they are. That is why getting the temperature of the office spot on is so important. The ideal office temperature is 71.6 Fahrenheit, and you can help your workspace achieve that through suitable heating in the winter and the use of a commercial HVAC installation in the summer – check out http://elitehvacs.com for more.
Provide quiet rooms
No apologies here – we’re going to mention Google again. Their ‘nap pods’ where employees can go for a sleep during the middle of the day have taken on almost mythical status, but more and more companies are adopting the idea. Studies have shown that a 20-30 minute power nap is better than a cup of coffee for boosting energy and productivity levels. While you still might not be convinced, providing quiet rooms will at least give your employees somewhere to head to and work in peace should they not be able to concentrate in an open-plan office. Sometimes, a change of environment is all we need for a boost.
Have an open-door policy
Employees are more likely to work hard and feel valued if they believe that they are being listened to and appreciated. That all comes from an open and engaging team, with managers and supervisors taking on board feedback from their workers and keeping them in the loop as shareholders in the business. The best way in which you can foster this sense of togetherness is with an open-door policy – quite literally. Keep the doors to all your offices open as much as possible so that employees know that you are always available to discuss questions, comments, and concerns.
Let employees customize their desks
We’ve already noted how being relaxed and comfortable at work can be a real boost to productivity, and you can encourage that even further by letting employees customize their own desks. Whether they’ve got an obsession with different types of cacti plants and so want a work station with several of those dotted around or would feel more motivated by having a picture of their spouse and family next to their computer, you should encourage your employees to make their little corner of the office their own. Let them pick the seating they use and if practical, the type of desk. Anything that will help them feel more comfortable will, in turn, boost your business’ chances of success.
Introduce wellness initiatives
If your workers are fit and healthy, then chances are they’re going to be more motivated and therefore more productive. Now, you can’t control what they do outside of the office in terms of throwing fast food down their throats or drinking ten bottles of beer a night, but you can make the workplace somewhere that clearly cares about their wellness. Supplying complimentary fruit for them to snack on throughout the day, offering a weekly prize for the employee who completes the most steps at work or even a bring-your-child-to-work-day can help to improve the wellness, mood, and productivity of your employees.
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