How To Boost Employee Productivity With The Right Office Space

If there is one thing that HR managers constantly strive to achieve, it is to boost employee productivity. The truth is that there are many factors that can influence employee engagement levels and thereby productivity. These factors tend to be affected by both internal and external factors.

Some of the standard factors that affect employee productivity are as follows :

• Work environment

• Employee motivation

• Management style

• Organizational culture

• Training and development

• Technology and tools

• Work-life balance

• Communication

• Workload

• Job satisfaction

• Physical health

• Mental health

• Employee engagement

• Feedback and recognition

• Team dynamics

• Compensation and benefits

• Leadership quality

• Task clarity

• Flexibility in work hours

Although the work environment is seen as a factor that affects workforce productivity, most people focus this element towards the organisational culture in general. The concept of office space, layout, and related ergonomics are often overlooked. As surprising as it may sound, having the right office space and productivity goes hand in hand.

The office space, which is the foundation of a good working environment, has many impacts on general human capital management and performance. This article will give a comprehensive understanding to HR professionals on how to boost employee productivity with the right office space.

Organic Lighting

Your best friend when it comes to boosting productivity is lighting. According to a study, workers who were seated within 10 feet of a window experienced an 84% reduction in eyestrain, headaches, and blurry vision. Of course, if your team struggles with these things, they won't exactly finish their work.

In worse cases, this can lead to health concerns, increasing absenteeism, sick leaves, and maybe even expenses from medical costs covering employees.

No matter the size of your company, if you want to understand how to boost employee productivity, you should know that good lighting is crucial to achieving this goal. Incorporating sustainable concepts can help with

Open floor plans, glass partitions, skylights, light shelves, atriums, large windows, solar tubes, daylight harvesting systems, and outdoor workspaces are some amazing office concepts that promote the use of natural and organic lighting.

Space For Socializing

Another totally underrated element that is quite underrated when understanding how to boost employee productivity through the right office space is the ability to socialise. This is where office layout and rooms for breakouts or recreation come into play. Imagine being in an office that confines you to a cabin with no chances for a casual discussion with colleagues, or teammates? As much as it sounds exhausting, having such workspaces can result in burnout, reducing productivity.

Creating opportunities for socialising is a key part of human capital management that can boost not only productivity but creativity and ideas outside the box. Whether it's a lounge, a coffee station, a gym, or even a chill hangout spot in an office, it can give employees some time off the screen to stretch, relax, have fun conversations with fellow colleagues, and then resume work with refreshed energy. Research also suggests that the concept of socialising at the workplace helps with engagement, team performance, and revenue generation. The study says:

• Employees who have more friends at work are twice as likely to be engaged in their jobs as those who don't have such relationships. This could only be a result of having chances to socialise and get to know teammates better.

• Informal interactions through socialising among team members significantly contribute to team success. It was found that conversations outside of formal meetings are rather important for team performance, emphasizing the value of social interactions at work?.
  

• HR that encourages a fully engaged workforce can generate twice the revenue of those with lower engagement levels. This can be made possible only by positive communication within the workplace, fostered by socializing, which directly contributes to higher productivity.

Simple Design

Understanding how to boost employee productivity with the right office cannot be complete without focusing on design. It is found that a cluttered workspace or surroundings compete for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress.

It can seem like a lot when your office is crammed with pictures, artwork, random papers, and too much furniture. No matter where your team members are attempting to work, they might become distracted due to all of these clashing design elements. HR teams should give extra focus on the design concepts and layouts of office space if they want to level up their initiatives towards improved productivity.

Open floor plans, biophilic design, flexible workspaces, colour psychology, personalization, breakout spaces, and technology integrations are modern workspace design concepts that have been beneficial in helping HR understand how to boost employee productivity and make workplaces mode aesthetically welcoming to both potential clients and employees. Not to mention, as many HR teams focus on developing workspaces for better productivity, it is a must to emphasise that cleanliness and maintenance are equally important to ensure the workplace is safe and healthy for employees and their well-being.

Ergonomics

Uplifting health should be a key area of focus among HR managers when it comes to human capital management. Good health directly correlates to less absenteeism and sick leave. The more healthy your employees are, the easier it is for them to stay engaged with their tasks, boosting productivity.

Again, one area many companies overlook when designing their workspace is the integration of the right furniture that supports the nature of the employee's jobs.

Imagine sitting in an old chair that causes more backaches than it supports, making it difficult to complete work. What about the desk that you work on? Is it comfortable to let you use a computer or laptop?

Did you know that studies have shown the use of ergonomic furniture significantly reduces upper back, shoulder, and neck discomfort associated with the workspace? It also reduces strain, fatigue, and the risk of long-term health issues. In general, ergonomic furniture promotes healthy posture, leading to less discomfort, better concentration, and improved productivity.

Takeaway

It is important to remember that not everyone is motivated by monetary benefits and perks to boost productivity.

Some just want an atmosphere that doesn't compromise their health and well-being. This is why it is important for HR managers to take office space design, facilities, and layout as a serious consideration in human capital management.

Once you understand how to boost employee productivity with the right office space, the other factors contributing to employee engagement could all have a much more prominent impact.