When designing your office space, focusing on employee wellness has been shown to not only improve employee happiness, but also performance, productivity, and retention. Here are a few of the best amenities to help you achieve your wellness goals.
Creature Comforts
One of the first things to focus on is adding and improving creature comforts. This can range from having a few coffee machines for offices, couches, squishy cushions, and other items that make you feel more comfortable and “at home” while at the office.
These creature comforts remove the often sterile feeling of a regular office, a feeling that can sometimes make employees feel suffocated, and replace it with a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Ergonomic Furniture
Never underestimate the power of chairs, desks, and other items designed for comfort and support the body. Ergonomic furniture keeps the body, joints, and muscles comfortable, making it easier to focus and sit for longer periods.
Ergonomic furniture also prevents long-term damage and injuries, and will stop employees from needing to take sick days and treatments.
Wellness Rooms
Wellness rooms have gained popularity over the past few years, and for good reason. In simple terms, a wellness room is an area that is quiet, with fresh air, and comfortable seating, serving as a space for employees to escape to for some “quiet time.”
These areas can be a place to work in peace, take a few minutes to clear your head, do a few push-ups to relieve stress, or anything in between.
Healthy Food & Snacks
It is not a secret that unhealthy food doesn’t make you feel good after you have eaten it. Junk food can cause anxiety, hunger cravings, energy spikes and crashes, and a variety of other side effects that aren’t conducive to a comfortable and productive workday.
Instead, having healthy food and snacks available will give your employees sustained energy boosts, allow them to focus better, and generally make them feel good throughout the day.
In addition, if it is possible, having some cookware, a stove, a microwave, etc, available will allow employees to make and cook their own food, and not have to rely on a vending machine, takeout, etc.
Collaborative Spaces
Collaborative spaces have been shown to drastically increase productivity and relieve stress. In simple terms, a collaborative space does away with the typical office and desk layout, and instead focuses on creating areas where groups of people can easily and comfortably communicate and work together.
Taking it a step further, when collaborative spaces include everyone involved in a project, from interns to managers, it is far easier to get work done, communicate, problem-solve, and so on.
Social Areas
The office shouldn’t be a place where all your employees sit in silence doing their jobs all day. Social areas encourage communication, build relationships, give employees a chance to vent and relax, and provide a variety of other benefits.
Having a social area is incredible for improving the mental health of your employees. When stress is low and the mood is high, employees are happier to be at the office and are far more productive.
Natural Light & Fresh Air
Natural light and fresh air should be a staple in every office. Once again, lacking both of these things will make the space feel incredibly sterile and uncomfortable, and can make some people feel on edge.
Instead, open the blinds and curtains, and either open the windows or invest in a few air purifiers if you work in a cold environment.
Outdoor Spaces
Building on the last point, if possible, create an outdoor space where employees can work, hold meetings, socialize, have lunch, and more. Simply put, fresh air and the great outdoors can improve your mood and reduce stress in a matter of minutes.
Additionally, being able to get away from your desk and find some quiet time can help employees focus better and can make them feel more comfortable at the office.
Gym
While not possible for every office, a gym is a game-changer when it comes to employee wellness. Whether it is fully equipped or there is only a treadmill and a few weights, having somewhere to destress and work out for an hour or two is ideal for employee wellness.
If it isn’t possible to have a gym, you can invest in a few walking pads for employees to use. These nifty pieces of gear are a smaller, more compact version of a treadmill and can easily fit underneath standing desks, allowing employees to walk and work simultaneously.
Pet-Friendly Areas
Finally, what can improve the mood and spirits of an office better than a few puppies and cute dogs running around. Once again, allowing pets in the office is becoming increasingly common, and the side effects of this change have been noticeable.
As mentioned, pets can improve the mood of your office and lighten the atmosphere in a way that makes people feel more comfortable. If you can’t have pets running around, investing in a large enclosure for them is the next best thing.
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