Office Design: What Happy Employees Want
Office design matters for the health of any business because the work environment directly affects employee satisfaction. Employees will be happy when they get what they want in office design without having to ask or think about it. They will instinctively use the spaces available to them and become more productive when office design is well considered. Business owners, human resource departments, and maintenance crews have the task of paying attention to these details because ultimately it will benefit the company by having functional office space design and furniture that promotes happy employees. Happy employees are always more productive which will move the business forward.
So exactly what type of office space design makes employees happy?
There’s never one easy answer when it comes to office design because every company has unique needs. Because employees want to feel a sense of purpose when they’re at the work, office space design can really cater to those needs when planned out well. The office design sets the dynamic and energy of the office. A combination of areas will offer the best office space design for any company. What employees what and what works for the business when it comes to office design really depends on several factors including the following:
- Location of the office and the floorplan
- Demographics of the employees
- Type of work being performed: team or individual
- Type of office furniture being utilized
- Technology requirements and connectivity
- Collaborative design integration
- Acoustic considerations and lighting
Open Office Design for Collaboration
Designing open and collaborative office space directly impacts an employee’s happiness and their engagement with coworkers. An open office space design is more than just a few tables in an open area for meetings. It’s designing a space that encourages creativity so teams can more effortlessly collaborate. That means the décor and the furniture have to match the intent of the space for collaboration.
Individual Office Design for Focus
Office space design that considers the individual employee offers less distraction. Often times a project requires focused attention and a space designed for workers to get in the ‘zone’. Happy employees want a casual space where they can be comfortable and focus. Maybe they just need some privacy. Sometimes that means being able to work uninterrupted or make a business call without disturbance so an office designed for this purpose will yield more efficiency and happiness in employees.
Office Design for Technology for Connecting
Technology is a major factor for employees and businesses. Having the right technology and the right office design to use that technology will affect how happy an employee feels because they want to work for a business that is progressive and on the cutting-edge. With so many employees working remotely these days, having the technology to connect is very important. Those working in the office need to be able to share digital resources and having the furniture, configuration, and office space design that allows them to do so will make for happy employees.
Acoustically Controlled Office Design for Diffusing Sound
When an office has hard floors and open spaces, sound tends to bounce around which can make it harder for employees to concentrate. Carpet squares, screens, and space dividers improve the acoustics of an office when strategically placed. Diffusing the sound with creatively shaped sound panels offers a solution for both aesthetics and sound control.
It’s always best to have a combination of workspaces so keep that in mind when planning an office design.
Happy employees want spaces to collaborate, spaces to work alone without distractions, and spaces to take breaks so they can pause and refresh. Choosing the right furniture is a key factor for office design. If help planning is needed, consult an office space design professional who would love to help. Planning is key to any office space design, and when there’s a combination of spaces available, employees will look forward to going to work. They will also be happier and more productive.
Written by:
John Ofield
President/CEO at Collaborative Office Interiors
Collaborative Office Interiors is a complete office furniture and systems provider in the Houston, Austin and San Antonio area. COI specializes in providing high quality/low-cost solutions to companies that are moving, upgrading or expanding.
John opened ROSI Office Systems in 1993 and the company today is on Inc. Magazines’ Top 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in 2018. John specializes in new office furniture, space planning, new workstations, Work Fit products, remanufactured Haworth cubicles, asset management, furniture liquidation, and office furniture rentals.
