Blog Post
Unproductive employees? Perhaps you should reinvent your office space!
Have you ever heard about The WELL Building Standard? It is a system backed by the latest scientific research introduced to encourage more efficient building structures that promote employees' health and well-being.
Although the pandemic has reshaped work habits globally, with smart working being more and more popular, many declared to be enthusiastic about a hybrid routine, combining remote and on-site working. Most employers, on the other end, prefer to have their team in the office. So, what can they do to attract more workforce back to the workplace? Here is where The WELL Building Standards come into play.
Achieving a formal certification from WELL might be pricey for some organizations; still, some of the improvements suggested can be implemented to create a healthier work environment that can positively affect the team's productivity and motivation.
First, you should consider that research shows how workers prefer options ranging from wellness rooms, company fitness benefits, sit-stands, healthy lunch options, and ergonomic seating. Second, you should take into account the seven concepts for healthier buildings developed by WELL, namely air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. For instance, air quality should be monitored and improved through filtration systems or office plants. Adequate water consumption should be promoted within a company to foster attention, alertness, and so on; potable water and water coolers are an example of an employer's easy steps to encourage workers to drink more.
Besides water, nutritious food is also pivotal for an efficient body and mind. Therefore, companies should put effort into providing healthy food options and valuable nutritional information to their employees. Light is another crucial element for a productive environment. Maximizing natural light and replacing flickering lights should be on the top of a business list.
Back to the concept of a healthy body and mind, a good fitness routine can hugely impact productivity, creativity, and motivation. If you cannot afford a wellness room in your building, ensure you provide employees with incentives that encourage exercise, like coming to work by bike, if possible. Different solutions can be explored in terms of comfort, such as different spaces your employees can work from and ergonomically framed work areas. Lastly, design an appealing workplace comprising collaborative spaces, greenery, and outdoor areas to boost concentration, originality, and collaboration.
Copyright © 2022 Harvard Business Council
