If not long ago, employees would daydream about the moment they returned home to their oasis of comfort, the tendency has begun to shift after the pandemic. Employees got to actually work remotely, they reconnected with the peace found in their dwellings, and they started to reject the idea of compromising all the recently found perks for something like a slightly higher pay. And this makes a lot of sense for those who aren’t under a disheartening financial burden: neglecting your wellness and wellbeing now is likely to cost you later. The costs can take many forms, from an impending bout of depression to backaches to sedentarism-based issues. Clearly, we’re all better off without all these struggles; though it’s fair to admit that taking their absence for granted feels almost natural.
For businesses, an unattractive – or worse, toxic – workplace can cost their activity. In the UK, for instance, £71.4BN is lost from GDP every year due to workplace unhappiness. That’s an appalling number, all the more when you consider that many of the changes that could reverse it, if implemented, are both simple and affordable. Better yet, these improvements benefit everyone: from the remote-working CEO to the newest hire – and even the families around them. So, what are the implementations and trends we’re hinting at?
Why so many losses?
The staggering figure presented above stems from numerous aspects: poor Wi-Fi connection, slow lifts, insufficient space intimacy, overcrowded kitchens, malfunctioning HVAC systems, and the list of shortcomings goes on. Altogether, they cause employees to lose about 68 minutes weekly, hindering their productivity in task-solving and contributing to work-related dissatisfaction. It’s easy to see the connection between such disheartening scenarios and decreased business return on investments. Scaled across the UK workforce, this lost time translates to a weekly salary cost of £485.2MN, which amounts to the £71.4BN in lost productivity over the course of the year. What a shame, right?
Ergonomic comfort as the starting point
The ergonomic furniture industry has been booming lately, ever since employees began to realize that comfort is a necessity and not a luxury. This type of furniture extends beyond aesthetics to support the mind and body throughout the workday, encompassing adjustable chairs, monitor arms, sit-stand desks, anti-glare lighting, and more. Not all gear is built the same – the more reliable your ergonomic furniture provider, the longer your purchase is likely to last. Dutch manufacturer Vepa is known for combining ergonomic design with sustainability and durability; and in some items, like those built with plastic from the Amsterdam canals, sprinkling in some uniqueness.
Ergonomics indicates that your company cares about employees’ health and wellbeing at the workplace, and can be as strong a signal of a positive work culture as offering perks like book purchase discounts and fitness subscriptions. All these practically achieve the same goal. By choosing furniture like this, companies invest in both employee comfort and their business future – an achievement that can attract new talent and align with visitor and stakeholder visions.
A space that makes them move
One of these days’ biggest health threats and risks is sedentarism – roughly three in ten adults failed to reach the WHO’s recommended physical activity targets in 2022, and in many parts of the world, such as the U.S., activity levels continue to decline. There’s no need to enumerate the health issues that can stem from such poor habits, because we really want to emphasize some ways you can counteract them in your workplace:
- Set up reminders that prompt employees to get up and stand for two to three minutes every hour
- Install sit-stand desks like those from vepa.co.uk to reduce prolonged sitting
- Incorporate walking paths
- Create breakout zones
- Install stretch corners.
The ability to test one’s flexibility in the office can also be an efficient conversation booster, encouraging spontaneous interaction among your employees and allowing them to bond deeper. A united team is always more efficient at finding creative solutions and carrying out tasks more efficiently since more individuals feel encouraged to speak their minds, which is an achievement that pretty much any workplace aspires for.
Mental health and wellbeing support
People, especially the freshest generations, are more aware than ever of the urgency of being mentally healthy and the importance of improving mental health literacy, and are increasingly haunting workplaces that act on these needs. Wellness initiatives, from reimbursed psychiatric sessions to flexible break policies, aren’t just a sign that your organization prioritizes holistic wellbeing but also a way of unravelling geniuses that might right now be buried under everyday stresses and anxieties.
For now, you can create quiet rooms for employees to wind down, install meditation pods, and offer access to counselling, developing a supportive environment where they’ll feel empowered to manage stress and recharge their mental energy. It’s when your employees know their mental and emotional wellbeing is cared for that they become genuinely willing to return to work on Mondays.
Nature connectedness and biophilia
Humans are naturally wired to feel settled in nature, surrounded by greenery and the four classical elements, and biophilic design taps into this instinct to improve employee wellbeing in the workplace and create a sense of belonging. Incorporating plants, wooden touches, natural light, and even water setups like small décor fountains or aquariums can significantly boost your staff’s mood, focus, and creativity, empowering them to work more efficiently and with greater enthusiasm.
The effect of biophilic design has been a hot topic among health and wellbeing researchers for years, particularly within industries such as hospitality, healthcare, and architecture. And the results are fascinating. Anxiety levels and systolic blood pressure drop significantly in settings with green walls or greenery, hotel guests exposed to natural features like vegetation feel more energized and mentally clear, and even neuroinflammation biomarkers dip when surrounded by biophilia. In essence, connecting your employees to natural patterns will help them thrive both physically and mentally, as your business will once they’re all set up.
How do you feel about your office? What changes do you think your employees would be the most excited about?
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