Recent studies have found that employee satisfaction can lead to better productivity and work culture. Employees can be 20% more productive and innovative at their job when they actually like what they are doing. While employers cannot control all the factors that affect employee satisfaction in their office, there is one thing that is totally in their hands—the look and the feel of the workspace.
Now you may be wondering how the look and feel of a workspace are relevant to the productivity and happiness of your employees. Well, providing your employees with a relaxing work environment can greatly lift their guts and make them more productive. One very easy and effective way to build a better workspace is to put a maximum amount of consideration into selecting your office furniture. The right kind of furniture can have a lot of impact on the overall feel of your office and bring a much-needed boost to your business productivity. Here are 5 things you can do to optimize your office for better productivity.
1. Invest in Ergonomic Furniture
Investing in ergonomic furniture is the smartest thing you can do to improve your workspace and provide employees with a better, comfortable environment. Ergonomic furniture is designed specially to fit the user’s needs and allow them to be comfortable all day long. There are many ways to add an ergonomic touch to your office. We suggest you invest in good-quality ergonomic chairs first and foremost since employees spend most of their time seated. For instance, you can start by investing in customizable task chairs that are designed with features like the adjustable armrest, seat tilt, lumbar support, etc. You can also add height-adjustable desks in your office that will provide your employees with utmost comfort by giving them the ability to change postures while working.
2. Set the Environment Through Lights and Greenery
Another factor you need to keep in mind while setting up your office is to allow as much natural light as possible to enter your office. Comfortable furniture isn’t the only thing that matters, but where it is placed is also equally important. It has been found through research that workers who work under natural light experience fewer symptoms of headaches and muscle sprain. So, try to place work desks near natural light sources, so every employee receives uninterrupted access to natural light.
Adding a plant to the office setup is another smart way to increase productivity and reduce stress among employees. A recent study suggests that people working in a greener environment tend to be 12% more productive than employees who work within offices with no plants.
3. Find the Best Storage Solutions
Rummaging through all the clutter to find that one important piece of a document can be frustrating and stressful. Many employees at offices are given inadequate desk space and storage solutions which leads to disorganization and lost productivity.
There are even studies that suggest that employees in an average office spend more than 4.4 hours per week in search of lost documents and files. So, adding proper furniture to your office with adequate storage space will allow your employees to focus on given tasks rather than finding lost documents. Proper storage solutions will also allow your employees to learn organization.
4. Go for Activity-Based Working Setup
Activity-based workspace is the latest and the hottest trend in the employment world. If you want your employee productivity to shoot up, creating an activity-based work environment is by far the smartest thing you can do. So, what exactly is an activity-based working setup? It is a working setup that diversifies your office and allows employees to use different environments for different activities. The idea is to create spaces within your work environment that can be designated for a particular activity. For instance, most advanced workspaces provide sound-proof segregated booths where employees can work without any interruption. You can also build collaborative booths within your office to enable employees to connect in a better way.
5. Use Acoustics
Unnecessary noise and chatty coworkers around you can have a really bad impact on an employee’s productivity. Sound contributes heavily to the productivity decrease in any working setup. There are studies to prove that almost 80% of employees on Udemy think that chatty coworkers are the biggest reason for distraction. Therefore, invest in good-quality acoustic panels that can cancel noise and enable employees to work in an acoustically comfortable environment. This will help your employees to regain their focus, produce high-quality work, and take fewer sick leaves because good office acoustics can leave a positive impact on their health.
Final Words
Many employers don’t pay much attention to office furniture while setting up a workspace. This article must have made it quite clear how important office furniture can be for your business productivity. So, don’t think twice and invest in good-quality furniture and create an environment where employees can work comfortably without losing their creativity and focus.