In accordance with Government guidelines our offices are now closed.

Please stay home, stay safe and stay healthy. We will see you on the other side!

People are the most important metric in workplace design

hok-top-10-trends-11

hok-top-10-trends-11

There was no escaping the latest buzz word in office design at Clerkenwell Design Week this year. You could not move for references to ‘Wellness in the workplace’. It would seem that employers now realise that the greatest asset that they have is their people. Hip, collaborative, open-plan offices have been the order of the day for some time but the next wave of workplace design is promoting something far more important – employee wellness.

Whilst design and refurbishment of a workspace is a significant cost it pales into insignificance when compared to the cost of compensating for employees who are not engaged, healthy and performing at high levels. A healthier workplace is a happier and more productive one which benefits both employees and employers.

In line with this, we welcome the introduction of the ‘Well Building Standard’, a new benchmark in interior design which addresses the elements that humans need to survive and flourish – clean air, healthy food, natural light, regular activity and physical and mental comfort. In other words, a measure in creating people centred environments which are naturally engaging. This new approach in office design will have a major impact on corporate culture and behaviour.

Technology and the way that we work is changing all the time, a new tech-savvy generation is coming into the workplace and the office environment needs to be flexible in order to accommodate for this on-going change. Not only is the prospect of sitting all day in the same space an unhealthy one it is also a dated one!

Technology drives mobility and in turn mobility drives wellness. Flexibility is key! A workspace may require the same number of seats but these can take many different forms – formal and impromptu meeting areas, cafes, lounges, break-out areas and individual work areas (quiet zones) – one size does not fit all and successful office design needs to reflect this . By creating suitable ‘activity areas’ (relevant to a particular business) employees are given options of places to work, they can move around – when they are given choice they feel more in control, more engaged and less stressed – happier!

Mobility is crucial to today’s workforce. Sitting, as we know, causes many long-term health related problems. It is important that posture is diversified throughout the course of the day so as to offset some of the damage of sitting. More and more frequently we are incorporating standing desks and conference areas and ‘hot-desk’ areas for employees who are out of the office much of the time. The demand for showers and changing areas is also on the rise, meaning that employees can cycle or run to work.

Natural light and furthermore connectivity with the outdoors is another important factor. Optimising natural light has always been a major consideration but more recently we have added patio space to meeting rooms in order that meetings can spill outside! Walking meetings are another great way to encourage your employees to exercise whilst getting some fresh air. We feel good when our environment connects us with nature, something as simple as incorporating plants into the workplace has an important impact on our health. Plants cleanse the air and help to freshen the mind which reduces headaches and fatigue.

Bearing in mind the importance of keeping your workforce moving (and therefore happy, healthy, engaged and productive) you might want to get an office pet! Pets encourage stress reduction and provide an excuse to get active. It also helps if you keep the dress code casual (on days when staff are not client facing), it is harder to take a walk outside in heels or a suit/tie!

For further information on promoting ‘employee wellness’ within your organisation do not hesitate to contact us on 01784 456850.

Related News

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest