6 Affordable Office Changes That Improve Employee Wellbeing and Productivity

Name: ROSI Office Systems - Office Furniture Houston
Address: 8 E Greenway Plaza Suite 200B, Houston, TX, 77046, US
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Location: ROSI Office Systems

Sitting in one spot for too long is dangerous to your health. Researchers have identified the workplace as one of the primary environments for sedentary behavior. In a typical workweek, Americans spend an average of five hours and forty-one minutes per day sitting at an office desk. Research shows that even small bouts of exercise do not counteract the physical dangers of sitting. This type of desk-bound behavior not only diminishes employee wellbeing and productivity levels, but also increases the risk of developing diseases such as depression, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Given the amount of time spent at the office, the promotion of health and employee wellbeing should be top priority. Some larger companies have offered vast and expensive programs that promote health. That’s easy to do when money is no object. But not all companies have that luxury.

The good news is that even small modifications can have a large and sustained impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Here are 6 affordable changes you can make immediately.

Get Moving

Allow employees to choose where they work by giving them a variety of flexible workspace options. Get up and move to a new area, with new scenery and new colleagues to engage with. Create an area where stand up meetings at height adjustable tables can take place. Encourage being active by allowing employees to do simple exercises in their office cubicle.

Offer Healthy Snacks

Many times during the afternoon slump, employees will reach for a sugary snack or caffeine boost to keep going. Combat worker sluggishness by offering access to fresh, filtered water and healthy snacks in the break room.

Bring The Outside In

Fill the office with plants. Surrounding employees with nature provides endless sources of variation and sensory change. There is an instinctive bond between humans and other living systems, often called biophilia. Adding greenery in the office will allow employees to think more clearly, be more resilient, and come up with creative solutions for problems.

Give Attention To Acoustics

Workplace acoustics reduce distractions and gives workers a better sense of privacy. Using sound masking keeps the background noise to a controlled minimum. The key is to create a perfect noise level to shield workers from stress causing distractions.

Natural Daylight

The workplace should provide employees access to natural daylight. When daylight is unavailable then well-designed light sources will work as a substitute.

Ergonomic Office Furniture

As mentioned, siting poses serious health risks to all employees. And while providing height adjustable desks is a great start, an office must also consider the ergonomics of the office furniture in Houston. Ergonomic office furniture will improve posture and create a healthier work environment. A worker with a stiff back caused by an uncomfortable office chair is not likely to get up and move around.

While there can be limits on what an employer can change with regards to workspace design, any way you can improve employee wellbeing and productivity is a bonus. Sometimes, small changes can make a significant impact to the environment, so your physical space is worth considering as you aim to make improvements. If you need a free design consultation, give us a call. Our ROSI Office Systems designers can evaluate your space and give recommendations for change. Our goal is to help you create incredible workspaces that boost productivity while enhancing workspaces to improve employee wellbeing.