Architecture can affect mood. A wide-open space can be impressive but also demoralizing, if it makes the person feel insignificant.
Small, cramped spaces are claustrophobic. Halkin a leader in serviced offices has shared some of their experience on how office design affects morale and even productivity.
Adequate, Mostly Natural Light
Natural light reduces stress and improves one’s mood. That’s why you want to have as much natural light as possible in your building.
However, this has to be balanced with other concerns from the hot summer sun to glare on computer screens.
Furthermore, your office cannot rely too heavily on natural light. Give every office and work station overhead lights and task lights, whether someone is working in the evening or needs additional light to read the fine print on a contract.
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Good Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air is now more polluted than outdoor air. You can try to improve it with better air filtration and more frequent air changes.
Minimize the tendency to open doors and windows to increase air flow, since this undermines your energy efficiency. Clean the air ducts. Replace air filters often.
Clean work spaces in ways that don’t harm air quality. For example, use dusters that trap dust instead of knocking it off shelves and into the air. Vacuum more often.
Cleanliness
Clutter contributes to stress. This is true whether someone’s desk is a mess or there are boxes littering the hallways.
Dedicate time and effort into cleaning the workspace. You may need to buy organizers and filling cabinets so that people can avoid piles of paper on their desks.
This won’t just improve morale. It can protect customer privacy, if their documents aren’t sitting on someone’s desk where they can be read by anyone. And picking up items off of the floor and storing them properly eliminates those trip hazards.
One benefit of working in managed offices is that professional cleaning teams ensure every office is spotless, while the common areas are flawless. And no one is ever left with a bad impression because they hit the bathroom and found it was a mess.
Balancing the Personal with the Social
The open office plan is cratering, now that we have hard data proving that it destroys productivity. The sounds of others talking on the phone, typing on the computer and eating lunch take a toll on everyone else, whether or not they’re getting interrupted by a steady stream of visitors.
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Yet many managers want to be able to see what is going on. One solution is the classic row of cubicles. This at least dampens sound and provides some visual privacy. Employees could put a barrier across the cubicle entryway to indicate when they don’t want drop-in visitors. Another option is the small, shared workspace. Two to six people who already work closely together could share the same room. Don’t pack them in like sardines, and give everyone their own desk.
Amenities
Amenities can affect productivity. Otherwise, Big Tech firms wouldn’t have bothered to put in ping pong tables and free coffeemakers. Learn what amenities are of value to your employees and offer a decent return on the investment.
For example, free coffee tends to increase productivity in general and it eliminates by need for caffeine addicts to leave the building to buy coffee. Install vending machines with a wide assortment of snacks and meal replacements, and your employees won’t have to leave the building to get lunch.
Furthermore, they’re more willing to work later, because they can wait longer before they have to go home to get dinner. Offer free healthy snacks, and it shows that you care about their health without trying to profit from their food purchases.
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— Will Corry (@slievemore) April 1, 2020