There’s a lot to be said about an office and the impact it has on the employees working within it. The wrong type of environment can have a severely negative impact and be detrimental to workflow and productivity. Luckily, there are some simple décor fixes you can make to solve the issue.
- Office Screens
The noughties brought with it a lot of cool stuff, and for a while, open plan offices were considered to be one of those cool things, but we now know that’s not true. Noise pollution is a huge issue in offices, with productivity taking a massive 66% dip just because of a nearby conversation.
In fact, noise is so much of a big problem that it costs the EU €40 billion every year in days lost as a direct result of it. That’s not to mention the irreversible impact constant noise can have on hearing health.
The solution? Office screens. They’re better than booths because they still allow creativity and collaboration to run free in the office, but acoustic office screens can absorb a lot of excess noise which will keep the decibels down and concentration up.
As well as office screens, you’ll want to invest in sound absorbing flooring. Hard floor like tiles, wood and concrete reflect noise, whereas soft floors like natural carpet tiles and sheet carpet can absorb some of the noise that the office screens don’t. Neither of things will break the bank, and if you get a nice color/pattern, they can make your overall space look more pleasant and inviting, too.
- Furniture
Have you noticed a lot of your employees spend a considerable amount of the day fidgeting? If so, it could be because they’re uncomfortable. Hard chairs with no ergonomic support do nothing for a person’s posture and comfort levels, and this can cause them to be distracted as they look for a position that doesn’t break their back or amplify their neck ache.
You’ll also want to look at additional support, like keyboard wrist supports and comfortable mouses that could assist your employees. This will prevent all sorts of issues and eventually reduce levels of absenteeism as a direct result.
- Décor
Glaring fluorescent lights, clinically white walls and not a single piece of nature bar the trees in the distance. Décor plays a huge role in how productive and focused a person is, and it’s also one of the simplest and cheapest changes you can make to your office. Instead of harsh white walls, try pale blue. It’s a color that’s been proven to be calming, so if your staff are highly strung and flapping a lot, it could put them at ease and help them use the time they would’ve otherwise spent panicking working instead. It will also reduce eye strain which means presenteeism (when employees are at work but their mind is elsewhere) because headaches and head tension will be reduced, too.
Further to this, add a few potted plants. Humans work best in nature – even those who like to be indoors. Being around plants has also been scientifically proven to boost productivity and concentration, so all the more reason to add a small cactus or succulent on everyone’s desk!
Summary
If after all this your employees still aren’t productive, it might be time to hold an appraisal/performance review to see what the issue is. You might even consider your management style. After all, if the environment they’re in isn’t the problem, something internal is and it’s crucial to get to the bottom of it before it negatively impacts your business.
