If you want your employees to be as productive as possible then it is important to ensure that their health and wellbeing is properly looked after. Good leadership skills can motivate employees if they’re simply tired or a little stressed out, but unhealthy or uncomfortable employees will always struggle to work no matter how motivated they are, and are more likely to need to take time off sick too. Here are some tips to help you make your working environment as comfortable as possible for your employees.
Lighting
Bad lighting can cause migraines and eyestrain, and make it difficult for your employees to concentrate. It may also cause people to adjust their work spaces to avoid glare, thereby putting themselves in awkward positions that may contribute to back problems.
Invest in screen filters or low-glare lighting. Use flicker-free lights whenever possible, and fit blinds that can be opened and closed as necessary to prevent glare from the outside. An office that gets a lot of natural light is a great one to work in, but it is important to give your employees the option to control the amount of light in their area.
Temperature Control
A recent study conducted by researchers at Yale University has found that cold office environments contribute towards feelings of isolation. However, a working environment that is too warm can leave workers feeling tired and sluggish. The best temperature for your office is somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Space
Every employee should have enough space to stretch out and work comfortably. If people work in cubicles, make sure that their desk space is big enough for them to do their jobs without too much bending or twisting. Ergonomically designed desks, high quality adjustable office chairs and good quality keyboards are a must-have for every office and will go a long way towards preventing back pain and other general work-related issues.
Open plan offices do improve employee interaction and can foster a friendly environment where everyone feels like they are a part of the team; however it is important to give your employees some privacy and the option to wear a headset or otherwise shut out distractions if they wish.
Noise
Open plan offices are incredibly popular in modern companies, but they do have some major downsides. Noise travels indoors, and an open plan office can be a distracting working environment. Spare a thought for the employee that sits next to the fax machine or the photocopier, and remember that the kind of background noise that is acceptable to some could be incredibly irritating for others. Try to minimise noise pollution as much as possible, and put the people who spend a lot of time talking on the phone or those who need to concentrate intensely, in quiet corner offices. Working in a noisy environment can trigger the release of adrenaline, which may be motivational in the short term but can lead to people having trouble sleeping, and reduce your level of motivation in the long run.
