According to a recent Fellowes survey, about 45% of British employees said their employers didn’t provide the right tools and equipment to make them comfortable at their desks. This statistic is quite worrying, given that comfort is vital to a productive workplace. Indeed, your employees can better focus on their jobs and be more effective only if they work in a conducive environment. As such, it is crucial to make them as comfortable as possible in the office. Here are some of the best ways to make your staff more comfortable in their work environment.
A 2017 study by AXA PPP healthcare revealed that UK workers spend most of their workday seated, the average time being nine hours daily. Therefore, it is vital to create an ergonomic workplace for employees to keep them comfortable at their desks. Seating is essential to making employees relaxed in the workplace, ensuring that all office chairs are ergonomic and offer support for the neck, back, and legs. You can even provide lumbar support pillows to help with their posture. Furthermore, invest in ergonomic monitors, mice, and keyboards that are easy to work with. For instance, you can purchase keyboards with mechanical keyboard switches because they require less force, are faster, and more satisfying to use.
Your company may have a Casual Friday policy allowing workers to ditch their formal attires for more relaxed options. However, many experts suggest taking this a step further by encouraging casual dressing every day of the week. Leading workwear provider Simon Jersey released a study that revealed that 15% of UK employees said their company had gone completely casual. Top brands like Google have already embraced more casual clothes in the workplace to allow employees to express themselves, improve comfort, and enjoy a sense of community. You can also follow the casual dress code trend, inspired by entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson and Steve Jobs.
The UK government mandates all workplaces to provide employees who work beyond six hours a day one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during their workday. Consequently, having a break room is non-negotiable for your work environment. However, your break room will do little to make employees comfortable or encourage socialisation if it is just a dull area with some vending machines and a microwave. Therefore, consider creating comfortable spaces like pantries and cafes where staff will love to relax and mingle. You can also provide amenities like charging stations, fitness rooms, gardens, and relaxation pods to promote comfort in the office.
Your office’s lighting can also affect comfort levels. Fluorescent lights are often harsh and can trigger headaches, so ensuring your workplace has enough natural light is vital. You can use lamps to create a more relaxed ambience if your office does not have many windows. Also, ensure that no bright lights shine directly into your workers’ eyes. If possible, allow them to control their workspace lighting to optimise it when necessary.
