3 Ways to Turn Your Facility into a More Productive Work Environment
1. Provide communal spaces.
One of the primary needs of any employee is a sense of community. And, according to the Harvard Business Review, companies that create and value camaraderie improve engagement, creativity, and productivity. Providing communal spaces is an easy and great way to foster such camaraderie. Consider making areas like lounges and cafeterias more inviting and conducive to conversation so that your team members can gather and get to know one another. Moreover, according to Facilities Net:
Businesses benefit from employees spending more time on campus, reducing the amount of time spent traveling to and from the workplace for lunches and appointments, theoretically resulting in employees spending more productive time at their workstations.
2. Improve workplace ergonomics.
One of the best ways employers can begin to improve workplace ergonomics is to invest in high-quality task chairs for employees. Ultimately, better, more comfortable work stations make for happier, more productive team members. When creating or renovating work stations, some things to consider include:
- Lighting (including access to natural daylight and views; more on this later)
- Noise levels (some departments may need quiet, others may be more conversational in nature)
- Adjustable monitors (helps reduce neck strain)
- Keyboard trays (allow for proper wrist alignment)
- Height-adjustable work surfaces (to reduce long periods of sitting; think standing desks)
Overall, you want to ensure each individual department has the right tools and equipment it needs to be the most efficient at completing its tasks and getting the job done.
3. Ensure access to natural daylight and exterior views.
Access to daylight and views can also lead to a more productive work environment. Psychology Today reported that the Interdepartmental Neuroscience program at Northwestern University found that “there is a strong relationship between workplace daylight exposure and office workers’ sleep, activity, and quality of life.”
What’s more, according to study published in HortScience, a monthly journal from the American Society for Horticultural Science, the use of daylight, plants, and window views help enhance employee perceptions about their job while also improving workplace productivity.
Conclusion
Ultimately, providing communal spaces in order to foster a sense of community and camaraderie, improving workplace ergonomics, and ensuring team members have access to natural daylight and exterior views can help create a more productive work environment. And with more productive employees, you’ll reap the benefits of a cushier bottom line. What’s not to love?
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