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The business world is awfully competitive – all of us are aware of this – so it’s no wonder why so many business owners are constantly looking for ways to engage their employees and in turn, increase their productivity.
It’s not a secret that a vast majority of today’s employees are actively disengaged. As Gallup’s recent State of the Global Workforce report has shown that out of 100 million or so employed people in the United States, only 30 million are inspired and engaged at work.
On the other end of spectrum, we have around 20 million of people who are actively disengaged and “feel miserable” at their work. In between, we have more than 50 million people who are nor engaged. And while these workers aren’t particularly unhappy, they definitely aren’t inspired by their work.
Naturally, lack of engagement leads to a decrease in productivity, which of course affects the company’s bottom line in a negative way. And just how much does this cot? Well, the Gallup report also discovered that all of those disengaged employees cost the US economy anywhere around $450 and $550 billion.
How Office Environment Affects Productivity?
Some business owners are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to get the best out of their workers – they offer bonuses, gifts and extra free days in exchange for loyalty, and of course, productivity.
And while these elements have an effect productivity, one of the main factors people tend to ignore is the office environment. Even though you don’t think too much about it, the way your offices are set up has an effect the mood of your employees. So it can actually be massively beneficial to take a look at different furniture options to start making the most out of your office space, and hopefully improve your office environment.
For instance, are you aware that a simple thing like the number of computer screens your employees have impacts their efficiency? Vibe recently ran a study that showed that multiple screens can improve productivity up to 50%, especially when it comes to tasks that involve a lot of cut-and-paste actions.
But shopping for new computer screens shouldn’t be at the top of your priority list, because there are other, more important areas you should focus on when it comes to your offices and boosted productivity….
How to Improve Your Office and Employee Efficiency
The Physical Workplace
During the last couple of decades, the media has been glamorizing “cool” office spaces. However, since your design aesthetic can really affect your workforce – both physically and mentally – there are a couple of things you should pay special attention to.
Maintain a comfortable temperature
A few years ago, CareerBuilder conducted a survey that revealed that around one-third of workers is not actually comfortable with the temperature in their workplace. Offices that are either too cold or too worm make workers pretty uncomfortable and unable to focus on their tasks. That’s why you should keep your offices at roughly 70 degrees for maximum results. In case your workplace has outdated air conditioners (systems older than 10-15 years) it is better to get it replaced. Experts recommend that a properly maintained AC evaporator coil should last for ten years. However, longer the coils are not maintained, the Air Conditioners might not last much longer.
Improve the overall office esthetics
The aesthetics of your office have a large impact on the wellbeing and concentration of your employees. In the last couple of years, research has proven that everything from the paintings on the walls to the amount of natural light in the office can impacts productivity.
Get comfortable office furniture
In most cases, office chairs aren’t exactly comfortable. But did you know that they may be the reason why so many employees feel unsatisfied? Well, a 2011 February Staples study revealed that 86% of employees aren’t comfortable in their chairs and almost half of them say chairs cause them physical pain. So in order to lower their work-related stress, you should invest in some ergonomic office furniture.
The Company Culture
While the physical factors we mentioned above have their fair share of influence on your workers, that’s not the whole picture. A positive work environment can lead to remarkable benefits for both the employees and the employers, which why you need to create a positive workplace culture in your office.
Encourage social connections
Positive social connections almost always produce desirable results – workers feel less depressed, have better memories, feel more focused, and perform significantly better on the job. And if that’s not enough, consider that the possibility of an early death is 30% higher for overweight people, 50% for heavy smokers and 70% for people with bad social lives, according to the University of California.
Start showing more empathy
While you might not be aware of this – you, as an employer, have a significant impact on how your workers feel about themselves. A brain-image study from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation discovered that when an employee recalls an unsympathetic and unkind boss, his brain activates in areas associated with negative feelings and avoidance.
Go out of your way to help the employees
If you start going out of your way to help your employees even when you don’t have to, chances are, they will remain loyal to you and your company for a number of years. Research from the new York University has shown that business leaders who are fair and self-sacrificing motivate their workers to become more loyal, committed and efficient.
Final Thoughts
And those were just a couple of things business leaders should take into consideration. Of course, there’s no universal “productivity booster” that will work for every organization. The solution is to get to know your employees, get familiar with their habits and you’ll have a better understanding of what you can do to create and maintain a workspace that fosters creative minds.
