5 Office Design Hacks That Could Help you Banish Worker Boredom

Excessive stress has long been recognised as a common problem in offices, but how much time have you spent considering the impact of boredom? There’s mounting evidence to suggest that a sense of tedium and monotony is taking its toll on employees. According to a poll conducted by consultancy firm Gallup, over 70% of workers are either not engaged or are actively disengaged from their jobs. Given that boredom can drain people’s motivation and prevent them from performing at their best, this is a problem that all businesses must take seriously. To help you banish worker boredom, it’s worth paying attention to the following five tips.

Create a flexible workspace

Forward looking firms are increasingly seeking to create more flexible workspaces. Rather than relying on homogenous banks of desks and computers, they are incorporating different zones into their offices that give people the chance to get a change of scenery during the working day. Some companies are taking this idea to the limits. From a New York apartment-themed conference room created by Google to the subway-inspired hallway-cum-seating area used by healthcare software specialists Epic, there are lots of ways to turn traditional ideas of office design on their head and create unusual spaces for employees to use.

Of course, you don’t have to go to these lengths to enhance your office design. Simply creating a breakout area that people can use to exchange ideas with colleagues without worrying about disturbing others can make a positive difference. These spaces, which area ideal for impromptu meetings and discussions, may help to improve communication in your company and boost creativity. They can also give people an opportunity to break their routines and experience a different setting from time to time.

Pay more attention to art, greenery and general décor

The vast majority of businesses put careful thought into the basics of office design. For example, they ensure they select comfortable chairs and suitable desks and storage solutions. Where many firms fall down however is in the finer details of workspace design, including the art, greenery and general décor they select. Given that your personnel may spend long periods of time within the same four walls during the day, it’s essential that your office is visually appealing and stimulating. So, if you don’t already have attractive artwork on the walls, consider adding some. You don’t have to spend a fortune on original pieces. Simply introducing some colourful prints could liven up your workspace and give it added flare. The same principle applies to your overall colour scheme. If your existing décor’s a little pallid, now’s the time to introduce some extra personality. Just adding a few touches of colour in line with your branding should be enough to give the space a visual lift. Including plenty of plants is another top design tip. Research has shown that greenery can have a positive impact on people’s moods and productivity. One study conducted by a team from the University of Exeter suggested that introducing plants to a sparse office resulted in a 15 per cent increase in productivity among workers.

Let plenty of natural light in

Working in artificial light for too long can sap people’s energy levels, lower their mood and increase the likelihood that they will feel bored - so where possible, it’s important to maximise the amount of natural light that your employees are exposed to. Highlighting the importance of this issue, a study by the University of Illinois and Northwestern Medicine found that people who had access to greater levels of natural light benefited from better sleep, were more active and had a higher overall quality of life. It might not be easy to change the levels of natural light in your current office, but if you are planning to move to different premises at some point, it’s worth looking for somewhere with plenty of large windows. Also, when you’re designing the internal space, consider using glass partitions rather than solid ones. This will allow sunlight to flow through your office.

Make break areas more fun and engaging

If you’re familiar with the sight of your colleagues sitting at their desks during their breaks, you’re not alone. A Bupa survey discovered that a third of employees eat their lunch at their desks, while 28 per cent don’t take a break at all during the working day. This can be bad for their health and of course sitting in the same place for hours on end without getting a proper rest and a change of scenery is big risk when it comes to boredom. To encourage your personnel to stand up and leave their workstations during their breaks, it’s important to provide them with a well-designed area where they can relax and chat. This space should have plenty of comfy seating and you might want to follow the examples of companies like Facebook and include games such as table tennis and pool. This should encourage people to socialise and unwind.

Give your employees a say in office design

Last but not least, consider giving your employees a say in the design of your office. After all, they’re the ones who will be using the space day in, day out and they might have a range of useful and practical suggestions. According to research conducted by the University of Exeter, employees who were given creative control over the décor of their own workspaces were nearly a third more productive than those who didn’t have this input. As well as helping you to hone your design, consulting your staff members in this way will show that you value their opinions, and this can play an important role in helping to enhance worker morale. Getting the design of your office right isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to keeping worker boredom at bay, but it does play a crucial role in combatting it. By following the suggestions in this blog, you stand a good chance of creating an engaging and inspiring workspace.

June 1, 2017 | View: 411 | Categories: ROOT