Could A Redesign Improve Your Office’s Efficiency?

In the workplace, time is money. There’s no doubt about it. Most workplaces now use technology to help improve their efficiency, automating many tasks that used to all be done by hand, such as filling out spreadsheets and writing reports. This is all good and well, but what if the environment your employees are working in is hindering their potential?

In this post, we’ll explore how redesigning your office can lead to a happier, more efficient work environment for both you and your employees.

Providing The Right Space – For An Environment For All Personality Types

As we’ve discussed before in our blog post on how to create an office that’s perfect for all personality types, different people work better in different environments. Some employees find brighter colours overwhelming, while others may thrive around them.

Giving your employees the option of where to work is the best way to ensure each personality type is happy in their place of work. Introverted individuals may prefer a place where they can focus in the quiet with minimal disruption. Whereas more extroverted staff may prefer an open office plan, where they can quickly and easily discuss work with nearby colleagues.

Even if you don’t have a large office, there are solutions available to adapt your workplace to your employee’s wants and needs as individuals.

Optimising Furniture – For More Comfort

Back pain is one of the most common causes of both short-term and long-term absences from work[1] along with musculoskeletal injuries. Much of this is caused by poor posture when sitting at a desk; usually the result of cheap furniture and an improper setup.

This can easily be solved by changing your chairs to adjustable back-supporting chairs, making sure computer monitors set to the right height and using other posture-supporting equipment such as keyboard risers and under-desk foot rests.

Segmenting Departments – For A Quieter Workspace

While open plan offices can make for a really good, collaborative working environment, it can become a bit messy if too many different departments are set up in the same space. While designers are trying to talk to each other over the marketing department’s 3 o’clock meeting, whilst also trying to drown out the sound of the accounting department discussing last quarter’s figures, it can become stressful and chaotic.

The solution to this may be to redesign your office so that each department has their own space, specifically designed for their speciality. Providing this will mean each will be able to collaborate openly with their colleagues and discuss projects and stats, knowing they won’t be disturbing other departments at the same time.

Conclusion

We know that different people excel in different environments, and people play a central role in business: without employees, a company is non-existent. If you want to improve your workplace’s efficiency through design, focus on your employee’s needs and what surroundings they thrive in. Design your office around your employees and they will be in their element, and happier employees with lead to harder-working employees, increasing overall output and efficiency: why do you think companies like Google and Facebook plough so much money into their workplace’s designs?

If you’re struggling to work out exactly what environment is best for your employees, why not get in touch with us using the contact form below and tell us about your workplace and goals.

Citations

1 – http://fitforwork.org/employer/preventing-absence/common-causes-of-work-absence/