It’s becoming increasingly apparent to employers and employees alike that the state of their surroundings has a significant impact on their productivity. The environment for work needs to be specially curated so that people can concentrate and work towards their shared goals. If you are an employer or manager, you most likely already understand just how valuable a good workspace can be for employee focus and morale. Here’s how you can set up the perfect workspace for your employees to reach their full potential and support your business.
Find the Right Space
If you are in the process of setting up your business, you will first need to find suitable premises for your employees to work from. Your criteria for this space will depend on the nature and size of your business. For example, if you only have a handful of employees, then a sprawling office space would most likely be a waste of money at this early stage. Similarly, if you have a large team, then you can’t expect to cram them all into a poky room. Write a list of essential criteria for your workspace, including your budget, before setting out to find it.
Offer Ample Tech Support
This consideration is more important than many employers believe at first. Only once something goes wrong do people discover just how vital it is to have good IT support? You don’t need to have in-house assistance when a Los Angeles managed service provider can perform professional IT services without taking up your workspace. Employees will feel more productive and relaxed knowing that they can easily access expert tech support. Without this, many everyday tasks can take far longer than they should.
Invest in Comfortable Furniture
Your employees need to be physically comfortable if you want them to consistently focus on performing at a high level. Comfortable furniture doesn’t just mean plush sofas in the reception area or cushions in the staff room. Invest in ergonomic chairs and adjustable desks so that each employee can tailor their individual workspace to their own needs. Sitting in the same position for hours every day can cause serious health problems further down the line, so making sure that your team can maintain good fitness will help them stay healthy and focused.
Provide a Variety of Spaces
Depending on what your business provides, it may be beneficial for you to set up an office space with a variety of different areas for your employees to work in. Consider having separate social and rest spaces as well as meeting rooms, open-plan workspaces, and quiet places for intense concentration. This kind of environment allows people to choose a workspace that suits their needs, whether that’s to collaborate with others or focus on a task in peace.
Understand Individual Work Preferences
There is no end to the advantages of getting to know your employees better. Understanding their unique interests and abilities will help you to give them meaningful work that benefits both them and the business. A valuable detail to learn about each employee is how they prefer to work. Some people are far more productive when there is a bustle of colleagues around them, whereas others find this too distracting. If possible, get to know these preferences and find ways to help your employees find a workspace that suits them.
Consider the Benefits of Remote Work
This is a controversial topic among employers. Some businesses insist that it is important for their employees to come into the office, while others have learned from the pandemic that remote work is a viable alternative. For maximum flexibility, find out what your employees prefer. Some people are invigorated by the traditional office environment as it sets the tone in their minds for productivity. Other employees, however, shine their brightest when allowed to work in an environment they are more comfortable and familiar with.
Make Room for Breaks
Not setting aside space for employee rest is an oversight that most successful businesses don’t make. Some of the largest and wealthiest companies in the world are famous for the elaborate social and leisure spaces they provide their employees. This doesn’t mean you need to install an oversized interior swing or a swimming pool in your office. A dedicated break room that is welcoming, peaceful, and, most importantly, completely separate from any workspace can help employees to refresh their minds and return to work with new ideas.
Reduce Clutter with Accessible Storage
Being too strict about employees keeping personal items in their workspaces can cause a negative and unhelpful atmosphere in your office. However, an abundance of clutter can make it harder for people to work effectively. You can solve this issue by providing plenty of storage options that are easy to access for everyone. Make sure that your workspace is well stocked with enough stationery and equipment for your employees to use as needed without letting it pile up on desks.
Invite Feedback
It can be hard to know whether or not your workspace is suitable for your employees, especially if you have only recently moved everyone in to start work. It isn’t always obvious how appropriate a particular space is for its purpose until you’ve begun. To avoid overlooking important problems, make it known among your employees that you want feedback on the quality of the workspace so you can make improvements if necessary. Allow people to anonymously make suggestions or complaints about the work environment so you can assess the situation more accurately. If your employees express contentment with their workspace, this will also shine through in the quality of their work.
If you hadn’t been aware before, you definitely will be convinced by now that a work environment can either be detrimental or beneficial to productivity. As an employer, it is up to you to provide a workspace for your team that inspires creativity, collaboration, and concentration. This quick guide should help you make effective changes that positively impact your employees.
