Top 6 Things Workers Look For In An Office

It should come as no surprise that the most successful businesses are the ones who pull out all the stops to make their work-forces happy. To recruit the best talent around and keep their staff members satisfied, companies need to give employees what they want. As well as a decent paycheck, there are plenty of other things that can improve job satisfaction and reduce employee turnover. An inspiring workplace can not only enhance morale, but it can also encourage your employees to excel at their jobs, increase productivity and boost your bottom line. Want to find out how to attract and retain the very best personnel? Here are the top six things workers look for in an office.

Comfort

It might sound obvious, but it’s surprising how many firms fail to provide their staff with comfortable work areas. Not only can uncomfortable chairs and cramped desks leave workers feeling aggravated and demotivated, but it can also have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. If you want to get the most out of your employees, you need to provide high-quality, ergonomic office chairs and workstations that have enough space to allow people to work efficiently. You also need to make sure that the office has enough light, is well ventilated and has an effective heating and cooling system. Meeting these objectives will show your workforce that you have made an effort to keep them happy and healthy, which can work wonders for morale and can even enhance performance.

Flexibility

Employees appreciate having the freedom to choose how and where they work. After all, there’s nothing more demoralising than feeling like you’re chained to a desk for eight hours a day. A simple way to give your workers the autonomy they need is to provide a range of alternative work areas. While open plan seating arrangements are great for promoting teamwork, it’s also important to provide spaces where people can go when they need to concentrate on individual tasks or require more privacy. In fact, it’s well known that the lack of privacy that comes with open plan environments can be one the main reasons why employees feel dissatisfied with their jobs. The solution is to provide a choice of both open and private spaces to accommodate different needs. You may even want to consider allowing your personnel to work from home on occasion. People who feel that they are in control of their working day are far more likely to be content with their jobs.

Entertainment

With corporate giants like Facebook leading the way with playful, stimulating office spaces, an increasing number of companies are following suit in a bid to improve employee engagement and gain an edge over their competitors. When it comes to keeping your staff happy and enhancing performance levels, offering workers a chance to relax and recharge is crucial. However, that’s not to say you need to install an on-site cinema or a state of the art gym to keep your workforce smiling. Recreational spaces, such as a break out area or games room, are becoming increasingly popular design features in offices, with the aim of giving staff the chance to blow off steam and take a break from from stressful work demands. Mixing work with play can create a more productive, engaged workforce, foster a positive company culture and make your office a more attractive place to work.

Stimulating surroundings

When you take into account the fact that many workers spend around 40 hours a week at work, the office has become a home from home for lots of people. However, a lack of work/life balance can lead to increased levels of stress and depression, and there’s no doubt that a clinical, drab work environment will only add to this problem. To keep your staff in good spirits, you need to create a stimulating and inspiring place to work. Allowing your employees to personalise their desks, write on notice boards and generally put their stamp on the place can go a long way in terms of making the office feel more welcoming and comfortable. Creating informal, relaxed surroundings with plenty of visual interest can make employees feel more at ease and ensure that coming to work in the morning is that little bit more enjoyable.

Open communication

Another important factor that workers look for in an office is open communication and a sense of community. Workers thrive in environments where there is a culture of friendliness and everyone is encouraged to talk freely and interact with one another. Having an open door policy can help to foster a sense of camaraderie between colleagues, strengthen worker relationships and create a sense of team spirit. Closed door policies, on the other hand, can feel oppressive, cut off the flow of communication and make employees feel less connected to their jobs. Today, it is far more common to see managers working in the same space as their staff than having private offices. The aim is to break down hierarchies and promote equality.

Perks

While it may not be directly related to the office environment, offering perks can certainly help improve people’s perception of a company. Even small benefits, like having a day of the week where employees can wear casual clothes, providing free snacks and drinks and having regular company outings can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping job satisfaction levels high. When employees feel that their hard work has been recognised and rewarded, this can make a big difference to how they approach their daily tasks and increase the chance that they will go above and beyond for the business. The most effective, productive staff members are those who truly love their workplace, so it’s crucial that employers and managers invest in their workforce and listen to their needs. Why not give some of these suggestions a go and see how much of a difference they can make to your office? For more ideas on how you can create a comfortable and stimulating workplace, browse the range of office furniture products on our site.

April 25, 2016 | View: 413 | Categories: ROOT