Boosting Employee Engagement Through Purposeful Workspace Design
As the business world continues to reel from 2021’s “Great Resignation,” many employers are doing what they can to improve employee satisfaction at work. Whether it’s by offering food perks, implementing an office redesign or adopting collaborative workspaces, there are several ways to boost employee motivation in the workplace. Below are a few examples of how businesses can create a more inspiring workspace that could encourage employee happiness and, consequently, increase productivity.
The workplace is where your talent should thrive
First, it’s important that companies recognise the workplace is more than cubicles and desks. Instead, it should be viewed as an environment in which workers come to thrive or even as a powerful tool capable of strengthening teams and the brand as a whole. Creating an environment such as this doesn’t happen overnight: It takes time to research what is best for the specific workplace dynamic and to incorporate the right changes.
One up-and-coming method to foster employee happiness is to develop a multifaceted foundation that can cater to a multigenerational workforce. Workers of various generations often perform differently than one another in a professional environment. For instance, Baby Boomers are often better adapted to a classroom setup with separated workspaces, while the emerging workers from Gen Z may prefer a more creative and interactive arrangement. By utilising a purposefully innovative space, effective learning is promoted and certain employees may feel better engaged.
Avoiding issues that arise in poorly designed workspaces
Achieving this means the space must be designed around the people working. A good place to start is with workstations. Sitting for long periods of time causes a myriad of ill effects. From poor blood circulation and medical conditions to boredom and disengagement, these potential impacts are detrimental to employee health and performance. To combat them, workers should be encouraged to take time to stretch, go on recommended breaks and spend time on their feet with standing desks. In fact, providing custom-made or ergonomically designed workstations has been shown to go a long way in minimising future sick days and ensuring employees feel productive throughout the day.
Making the workplace more appealing
Likewise, break areas should be considered a relaxing space to recharge. Adding bright colours, inspiring décor, and plenty of natural light with pleasant outdoor views can make the area more appealing by tapping into human psychology.
Another part of creating a welcoming atmosphere is comfortable seating and healthy snacks or meal options. Employers might consider taking advantage of engagement programs featuring custom in-office meal solutions to help build a more positive company culture and make lunchtime a supportive experience. Doing so not only helps with motivation, but also encourages healthy immune systems and, potentially, fewer sick days.
A well-designed workplace can lead to numerous benefits for employees, customers and a company’s bottom line. While implementing changes such as these can’t completely prevent talent from leaving, it could help to reduce turnover rates over time.
For further pointers on redesigning the workplace, please see the accompanying resource.
Sources of Information
https://www.achievers.com/blog/how-to-design-a-workspace-that-boosts-employee-motivation/
https://engageemployee.com/top-workplace-design-tips-to-motivate-your-employees/
Creating a safe, comfortable workplace is one way you can reduce employee turnover and improve morale. Visit The Sustain Chain Toolkit today to find out what else you can do!
