Guest Blog by Emily Wells of CBS Office Interiors
Office design can directly affect the working environment in a variety of ways, which in turn can affect the overall success of the business. Small changes to optimise the office design can pay dividends in many ways, so we’ve outlined how your company can be affected and what steps you can take to solve HR issues with great office interior design.
What is Good Office Design?
It may seem like the office space is just an area where we do our work and the layout and design of it shouldn’t really make any difference to us; but there are a lot of factors that can influence productivity, culture and even health.
A well designed and planned office space in terms of interior structure, furnishings, lighting and even arrangement of desks are some of the key areas that can directly affect us in both positive and negative ways. So for Human Resources, aligning office design with the challenges you may face can have a long-term impact on the business and deliver positive ROI.
Some of the HR issues that can be solved through great office design are:
Productivity
An office where employees feel good in their working environment can dramatically improve both productivity and wellbeing. Having an amazing workspace will make staff feel good about being at work; companies who we have redesigned for experience a positive effect in both of theses areas.
When designing a new office interior, we take the time to explore the company’s current processes and workflow management so we can identify where time can be saved on regular tasks and implement design features to boost employee productivity.
Team Work
Having an open plan office where there are places to collaborate can really improve how employees work together as a team. If the office plan doesn’t have any areas that provide space away from desks, employees can feel like they are glued to their desks and are less likely to talk to people within their team or other teams. Agile and informal meeting areas allows employees freedom of movement around the workplace, offering not only a change in physical environment which can be refreshing, but often a different working dynamic as teams collaborate and work differently to one another.
Morale
It’s amazing to see the impact good interior design can have on a space, especially when it comes to employees in their workspace. With employees spending around 8 hours at work each day, it’s important to create an aesthetically pleasing environment which boosts morale, productivity and creative thinking. Providing employees with the space to work collaboratively and take a well-deserved break also helps in improving morale, building upon working relationships and regaining some much-needed energy for powering through to the end of the working day.
Culture
Culture is so important in the workplace. Creating an environment where everyone feels included and happy is pivotal to business success and the office plan can really help promote a happy and vibrant culture. Understanding your own business, the people within it and the culture will help with the design of the office and ensure that the DNA of the business is reflected in the planning. Giving employees the opportunity to create a fun and happy culture will improve so many HR issues such as employee relationships and morale.
Hiring and Retaining Employees
All of the areas mentioned above are conducive to not only retaining existing employees, but also attracting new talent to your team. For individuals looking to join the company, a well-designed office offers instant kerb appeal which lends itself to a great company culture – an important factor for those looking for a new employer. For employees working within the company, a well thought out office design helps create a productive and happy working environment where they feel like they are part of a team.
Small changes to optimise the office design can make a significant difference to your HR function, by ensuring your workplace is optimised to reduce many common HR issues.
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