Work environment has a major effect on an employee’s performance. It follows that creating a functional office space is a powerful way to ensure workers do their best and are motivated.
When you have a functional office space, you can expect increased productivity. If you’re thinking of remodeling your work space anytime soon, here are the reasons why you need to aim for functionality.
Reduce sick leave
Keeping the office space at a comfortable temperature can help promote productivity and decrease sick leave.
Installing under-the-floor air may allow for better airflow and less stuffiness in the workplace. If it’s possible in your workplace, individual operable windows can give workers the freedom to adjust the amount of sunlight and air that gets into their personal space.
Boost enthusiasm and work accuracy
Colors play a big role in an office space. Since they can directly affect a person’s mood, it pays to know exactly which colors promote a healthier workplace.
Bright colors such as red and green may help your employees focus on the task at hand. Calmer colors such as blue may help to uphold clearer thinking. A touch of pink may help alleviate stress and depression, both of which affect performance.
When you remodel your office, choose complementary colors that help, not overwhelm, the people in it.
Reduce the spreading of sickness
Open-floor plans don’t always work. Apart from lowered privacy, such openness can also help sickness to spread. When one employee is sick, the virus can easily travel and be transmitted to the next person beside him/her.
A functional office space gives regard to the health and wellness of its workers. Providing ample space between employees but still encouraging socialization is key to preventing an epidemic. So is providing multiple stations for hand cleansing.
Discourage noise pollution
Individual employees have different duties to fulfill. It’s important to take into account the levels of noise generated by each department so others will not be distracted and frustrated.
Place barriers like noise-absorbing walls, ceilings, carpets and the like. You could also segregate spaces into the quiet and noisy ones so that when certain employees get together, they won’t disturb others who need to work individually.
Other small tweaks like adding partition walls or providing headphones for each cubicle also contribute to a more functional office space.
Sensory variety
When people take a break and step away from their station, they like a change of scenery and anything that will help them relax a bit.
When you add small touches like wood, indoor plants or any nature-inspired detail to your office space, you help alleviate stress. Your functional space provides sensory variety, which all workers need to refresh their minds.
Greg Nelson
Greg Nelson is the owner of Nelson Construction & Renovations Inc. He is a Florida State Certified Building Contractor, creating artistry in all areas of design and construction projects. He is a musician, and artist. A husband and father, Greg appreciates all the wonderful elements of family life.
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