Improved office design helps motivate employees and boosts your internal brand reputation. Who wants to work in a dimly lit, outdated or unsafe environment? And, who values a company that doesn’t take their physical headquarters seriously?
Corporate surroundings are proven to affect both worker mood and productivity. Forbes columnist Jacob Morgan summarized the relationship between the physical workspace, corporate culture and the employee experience in a recent article:
“…Employee well-being is strongly correlated to employee productivity and performance and even a small shift in well-being can have a dramatic impact. Perhaps one of the largest factors of well-being is the physical workspace. Employees who enjoy and like the environments they are a part of will be more engaged, productive, happy, and healthy. There are numerous reports, indices, and studies such as Gensler’s Workplace Index, The Leesman Index, Steelcase, and others that explore the relationship between the physical space and business performance metrics, productivity, and what employees value.”
Office Design Tips from the Pros
As an extreme example, the 26-acre Googleplex in Mountain View, Calif. offers onsite benefits such as fitness classes, nap pods, free massages, fresh-cooked meals and more. While these perks are extravagant – even by Silicon Valley standards – the office design alone is enough to attract fresh talent. Sleek lines, bright workstations and open concept spaces breed innovation. It’s easy to feel motivated when working in a space designed to support and energize each and every employee.
Google is in a league of its own, and most small businesses don’t have the budget to replicate state-of-the-art facilities. Nonetheless, deriving inspiration from successful brands is simple:
Boost collaboration. Conversations and ideas don’t flow easily when offices are laid out like a maze. Rather than waste money on constrictive cubicles, try long desks with designated workstations that inspire discussion and teamwork. This tactic also makes small offices appear more spacious, so employees don’t feel as “trapped” during the day. Don’t forget about office chair mats, which allow swivel chairs to easily glide without catching on carpet. The ability to move and multitask at workstations promotes the impression of unhindered production.
Inspire creativity. Face it – even your most loyal workers would rather be at home than stuck in your office. Although you may want to avoid excessive work-from-home options, you can encourage employees to feel more comfortable at work. Let employees bring cherished items like family photos and plants. A little personalization builds a stronger sense of community while helping colleagues get to know each other better. If you want to take it a step further, allowing pets in the office is usually a hit. Just make sure no one suffers from serious allergies before enacting a dog-friendly policy.
Brand Your Space. Modern spaces feel fresher, but can also appear cold or sterile when overdone. Try adding warmth with your company’s color scheme and branding images. Use multi-functional accessories, like commercial logo floor mats, which act as a branding tool, interior decoration and protection against slip and fall accidents. Remember, an essential aspect of your company’s internal brand and core values should be a promise to worker safety. Each time you incorporate a measure to better protect employee wellbeing, your staff feels valued and are likely to reciprocate with diligent effort. Whether you install office runner mats to safeguard slick entryways or offer anti-fatigue mats to curtail exhaustion, your reputation as a caring employer will grow.
For more information on office design strategies, or to speak with an Eagle Mat representative on product specifications, call us at 877-333-1018.
