Would you say that your employees are at ease in the office? Do they seem comfortable and happy to be around? If the answer to these questions is a resounding ‘yes,’ congratulations – you are as rare as a proper unicorn. While most people feel comfortable enough in their workplace, many of them wouldn’t mind a couple of changes and improvements. If you’re looking to create a healthy workplace atmosphere and make everyone feel as comfortable as in their home, we’re here to help you achieve it.
We understand the importance of workplace uniforms, especially if the said uniform is designed to keep everyone safe and help distinguish employees from customers. On the other hand, if your workplace doesn't deal with heavy equipment, dangerous chemicals, food and drinks, or even gets visitors often, it might be a good idea to be a laxer when it comes to how everyone dresses in the office. By not having a strict dress code, you will let your employees come to work wearing things that are comfy and which they love spending time in. That, in turn, means that they will not associate your office with restrictive clothing and the feeling of being 'trapped' by what they are wearing.
You have to remember that, while some employees will be more than happy to chat with their superiors and offer their views and opinions on different matters with ease, others might not feel the same. There will be people with amazing ideas and insightful comments who will choose to keep quiet because they don’t like speaking openly and publically. You can try putting them on the spot, but all you’ll achieve is that they shy away even further. Instead, offer everyone a chance to leave a comment, share an idea, or give their opinion anonymously. An easy way to do this is to offer a survey at the end of the year where you’ll ask them to share what they like and dislike about their job/office. The feeling of anonymity will encourage people to give a more honest and open report.
There is no way anyone will be able to relax at work if the workspace is dirty. We're not only talking about the office, but the kitchen, meeting room, bathroom, elevator, and the foyer. Of course, you don't have to spend every waking moment dusting and scrubbing, nor do you have to hire a hoard of cleaning ladies who will clean every surface like it is a hospital room. Clean office and bathroom should be your number one priority, though, as anyone can get sick if these are dirty. Your bathrooms should always have enough soap and toilet paper and think about getting bidet toilet seats too, as they are very convenient and clean. Your office and the break room should have hand disinfectant available as well as paper towels and wet wipes, so basic hygiene can be kept even in case of accidental spills and smudges.
Everyone is different, and while some thrive in an open-concept workspace, others are unable to focus without the privacy of their own office or a cubicle. As an employer, you have the difficult task of balancing these two sides of the workplace and providing everyone with what they need. Of course, this might not always be possible (otherwise we would all work in beautifully elaborate and spacious offices), but try to compromise and improvise whenever you can. Even if you don't have the means to provide everyone with their cubicle, you don't have to stroll around the office like a teacher during an exam and peak over their shoulder to see what they're working on. Give them space and privacy, and everyone will be thankful for the freedom and the trust. When you design an office, make these expectations clear for the designer in the interior design brief.
Even though sometimes the work might be ‘slow’ and people will have a chance to chat a bit in the break room, everyone is still more focused on work than on their coworkers. That is great for productivity and their focus, but a shame for the team spirit many offices dream of having. Team building activities can be a great way to help your employees bond and get to know each other better, but they can also be a source of ridicule and mockery if not done right. To avoid the latter scenario, we suggest you provide everyone with a list of a few different ideas and have everyone vote for the one they like best. They will pick the activity they love, and you get to plan the next one with their known preferences in mind.
Feeling satisfied at your job is something everyone hopes to experience, but not many succeed. One of the best ways to ensure that everyone working for you is happy is to constantly learn and experiment with different practices. Only through constant changes will you be able to discover exactly what is it that makes your employees tick and how to make them feel comfortable while in the office.
Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, and her ultimate passion is art and architecture. She is also a bibliophile and her favourite book is "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.
