Gone are the days when offices were dreary, cramped spaces with nothing more than a desk and chair. Today’s modern workspaces are designed with employee comfort and productivity in mind. In addition to making the office space more comfortable and enjoyable, incorporating these features in a modern workspace can significantly impact productivity and the overall mental health of staff.Here is a list of key features of a modern office workspace by EXSTO Asia that can maximize productivity and make the workplace more enjoyable.
Open Spaces
Open spaces promote collaboration and communication among employees. A modern workspace should have ample room for employees to move around freely and interact with each other. This could be in the form of an open floor plan, where there are no cubicle walls, or simply having plenty of communal areas where people can gather.
Studies have shown that open-plan workspaces promote collaboration and creativity among employees. When employees are able to freely communicate and exchange ideas, they are more likely to come up with innovative solutions to problems. Furthermore, open spaces allow employees to move around more freely, which can reduce the risk of physical health problems caused by prolonged sitting.
Natural Light
Natural light is crucial to maintaining employee mood and productivity. A modern office workspace should have plenty of windows and skylights to let in as much natural light as possible. If your office doesn’t have access to natural light, consider investing in light therapy lamps to mimic natural light and boost employee mood.
Exposure to natural light has been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved mood, reduced stress levels, and better sleep. A recent study found that office workers exposed to natural light slept an average of 46 minutes more per night than those who were not. Better sleep has also been shown to have a positive impact on workplace productivity, improving focus and reducing absenteeism due to illness.
Ergonomic Furniture
Sitting at a desk all day can take a toll on your body. Ergonomic furniture such as standing desks, adjustable chairs, and keyboard trays can help to minimize the risk of injury and reduce discomfort over time.
Prolonged sitting has been linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and even depression. Providing employees with ergonomic furniture such as standing desks, exercise balls, and lumbar support chairs can help reduce the risk of these conditions and improve overall physical health. By doing so, you are ensuring that employees are less likely to suffer from discomfort, stress or absences caused by such medical conditions.
Flexibility
The modern office workspace should be flexible enough to accommodate different types of work styles. This could be in the form of private workstations, dedicated meeting rooms, or coworking spaces. The workspace should have the necessary infrastructure in place to support a variety of work arrangements.
Providing different types of workspaces that cater to different types of workstyles can help improve work-life balance and job satisfaction. Such benefits help improve employee retention and also increase productivity by finding tools, techniques and resources optimized to the way each worker works best.
Acoustic Privacy Pods
The 2019 Survey on Workplace Acoustics Study by Interface found that 69%of office workers report that noise negatively impacts their concentration levels,productivity, and creativity. The World Green Building Council found that background noise can lead to up to a 66% drop in productivity. Providing acoustic privacy pods allows employees to focus on their work in a relatively silent environment, which can increase productivity and reduce the harmful effects of noise on mental health.
Acoustic Privacy Pods are a relatively new addition to modern office workspaces. They are compact, soundproof spaces designed for one or two people to use for private phone calls, video meetings, or focused work. They can be invaluable in offices with open floor plans or noisy work environments where it can be difficult to find a quiet space to work.
Conclusion
Designing a modern office workspace that maximizes productivity and employee happiness is key to a successful business. Incorporating these features in a modern office workspace is significantly important to keep staff productive, engaged and comfortable. When employees understand that their employer values their overall well-being and health, they become more committed and engaged as an employee in the long run. By enhancing the physical workspace experience, companies can create productivity-enhancing, balanced environments for their employees. Additionally, by catering to each employee, companies can enjoy increased employee retention, reduced sick leave, and absenteeism and better overall work satisfaction.
