7 features that could make your workplace healthier

In today’s working world, health-focused offices are becoming increasingly important. It’s now widely recognised that companies stand to benefit greatly by adopting healthier work practices and designing buildings that promote mental and physical wellbeing. After all, it makes sense that the healthier and happier a workforce, the more productive and engaged it will be. It can also lower the amount of absenteeism, which in turn can boost your bottom line. Luckily, it takes just a few simple steps to make your workplace healthier. Here are seven useful ideas to get you started. 1. Bring nature indoors Introducing nature into the workplace has become a popular trend in the last few years. In fact, many leading businesses now have ‘living walls’ and use natural materials as part of their office design. Working indoors in an artificial environment can trigger physical ailments such as headaches and it can also hamper mental ability. Introducing greenery into the office by including plants, using materials like wood and even giving workers views of nature can help to inspire creativity and provide an overall feeling of wellness. Some plants have also been found to reduce air pollutants, which has been linked to enhanced cognitive function. 2. Finding the optimum temperature One of the most universal squabbles between office workers is to do with room temperature. While it may not seem like a particularly pressing matter, working in the wrong temperature can have a significant impact on a company’s overall performance. Workspaces that are too hot or too cold can lead to problems such as headaches, fatigue, poor concentration and increased stress. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the thermostat, studies have shown that the best temperature for productivity is around 22°C. To ensure optimum thermal comfort for your staff, consider features such as air conditioning, fitting curtains or blinds to windows and providing desk fans and heaters if necessary. 3. Allow for lots of natural light The typical fluorescent lighting found in many offices can have a detrimental impact on worker health, giving rise to physical problems like eyestrain and resulting in low productivity. In contrast, natural light can help with mental clarity, make people more physically active and even improve their quality of sleep, which is important if you want your staff to be on top form during the day. With that in mind, offices should have lots of windows if possible rather than relying on artificial lighting. Having an open-plan layout and using glass walls can also help to create a sense of light and space, while LED bulbs that replicate natural sunlight can cut electricity costs and improve workplace satisfaction. 4. Reduce noise levels Whether it’s ringing phones or chatting colleagues, noise distractions are another common office gripe. Although open plan workplaces can be beneficial in terms of collaboration and idea-sharing, they also result in increased noise levels, which can impede focus and cause employees to feel dissatisfied with their environment. Over time, this can lead to higher stress levels and cause productivity to decline. An easy way to tackle this problem is to invest in sound-absorbing furniture, such as desk screens and room partitions. Providing designated quiet zones and closed-off work areas can also help to keep office distractions to a minimum and increase privacy, which can boost concentration and performance. 5. A flexible workspace Being stuck at the same desk for the majority of the week is a sure fire way to make anyone feel unmotivated and uninspired. Flexible working is becoming increasingly mainstream across the UK and has been proven to have several benefits for both employees and businesses as a whole. Having a variety of workspaces in the office for both individual and collaborative tasks gives staff a choice in terms of how and where they work. Allowing your personnel to work from home on occasion or having flexible working hours can also increase job satisfaction. The more control your personnel have over their working day, the happier they will be about their jobs and the less likely they’ll be to suffer from depression or burnouts. 6. Health-boosting facilities and furniture It’s now common knowledge that long stints of desk work without regular breaks is bad news for our health. In a bid to reduce sick days and keep workers in peak condition, a growing number of companies are starting to promote active working. Adopting healthy practices and green facilities such as bike stations, outdoor areas and on-site fitness centres can help to get workers out of their seats and moving around during the day. Providing ergonomic furniture such as sit-stand workstations and adjustable chairs can also help to stave-off the aches and pains associated with sedentary work and it can improve posture. As well as benefiting employee health, showing your workers that you care about their wellbeing rather than just your profit margins can result in greater loyalty and retention. 7. A visually appealing workspace There’s nothing more stifling than working in a drab environment with no stimulation. Having a visually appealing workplace that inspires staff can work wonders for morale and psychological wellbeing. Even small features, such as mood-enhancing décor, can make a big difference to how your staff feel when they come into work everyday. Using the colour green, for example, has been linked to creative thinking. An office that is calming yet invigorating can help to put your staff in the right frame of mind for the day ahead while minimising feelings of stress and anxiety. Allowing your workers to decorate their desks with personal items can also help to increase workplace satisfaction by making them feel more at home and comfortable in their surroundings. By following simple steps like these and introducing healthy practices and design features into the office, your business stands to improve worker wellbeing, increase productivity and bolster its profit margins. Why not browse our website to see what products you could use to create a healthy and comfortable workplace?