The nature of your working environment has an immediate influence on your happiness, motivation, productivity, and efficiency. A comfortable and healthy work environment fosters productivity and reduces the costs associated with medical claims, absenteeism, and worker’s compensation.
Why a better work environment matters
If you want your company to succeed, improve your office environment, and ensure your employees are comfortable. Research shows that when employees are happy, they are more likely to stay with a company’s savings costs for the business.
Disengaged employees, on the other hand, cost U.S. Businesses approximately $550 billion yearly, according to a study by Gallup.
A toxic work environment often involves poor employee communication, work-life imbalance, low morale, and constant stressors. Working in a toxic environment affects not only your work life but also affects your lifestyle at home.
So, what should you do to nurture a healthy work environment that does not strain employees and diminish their productivity? Creating a comfortable working environment involves making physical and intangible changes that can make workspaces positive and vibrant.
So, how do you go about it? Here are some steps you can take to improve your business environment.
1. Add more natural light
Office workers prefer to work in spaces brightly filled with natural light. But the benefits of natural lighting exceed the preference of workers. Workplace lighting can affect productivity and satisfaction, as well as mood.
It also has several connections to the employees’ energy and quality of sleep. When employees receive a good amount of light from the sun and have enough rest at night, they feel better rested and can work with a rational mind.
2. A clean space is a healthy work environment
Nobody likes to work in an environment full of clutter, dirt, or trash. Clutter can put a dent in your productivity as you waste more time searching for an important document in your messy office. It can further increase your stress levels and reduce your concentration span.
The best measure is to clean up your office, declutter your desk, and ensure everything is well organized. It might take a few minutes every day to organize the office, but you will eventually find it gratifying to do so.
3. Reduce noise too
Noise is one of the most significant problems employees have when working in open office spaces with little or no separation. If you work in such an environment, you may clearly understand how distracting it is to deal with the noise as you try to work.
But it does more than reduce your work comfort. Too much of it can affect your productivity, job satisfaction, and morale and increase your stress levels. Thus, it is vital for a healthy work environment.
There are many measures you can take to reduce the effects of noise in the workplace. Changing the floor is one example. Instead of using regular flooring surfaces, such as wood and ceramic, consider installing noise-friendly flooring. Vinyl flooring can absorb sound and is easy to maintain, so it is a great choice.
You can also create a dedicated quiet space in your workspace. That area can become a sanctuary to escape from too much noise in the open space. If you cannot redesign the office, you may opt to use noise-canceling headphones or earplugs instead.
Earplugs are highly effective in blocking out noise and protecting your ears from damage. However, you need to consult a professional that can guide you to the right earplug for the noise level of your working environment.
Too much exposure to noise can damage your hearing, leading to having to use hearing aids. Maintaining your hearing aid can help extend its lifespan and preserve your remaining hearing.
4. Include your office in the comfortable, healthy work environment
As you spend more time at work, the chances are that you stay at your desk all day long. With that point in mind, make efforts to improve the comfort of your working station.
Start off with the furniture, choosing durable items. Use ergonomic office furnishings that are comfortable and practical enough to reduce health problems.
Also, avoid sitting down for long hours as it could cause significant damage to your health. Invest in a standing desk to better care for your health.
If you suffer from allergies because of the accumulation of dust and pollen in the office, include an air purifier too. This unit can clean the air around your workplace, so you breathe easier than before.
Summing up
Using any or all of the above solutions can result in a more comfortable, healthy work environment. However, it’s important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to improving the workplace.
Apply a set of measures together that fit well within your unique organization. Doing so will help your employees have a positive experience for better productivity and overall satisfaction. Finally, ensure you remain comfortable at home to prevent your home life from affecting your work life.