How office design can improve staff wellbeing

With businesses welcoming their employees back to the workplace on a more regular basis, it has never been so important for employers to seriously consider the types of environments that they’re offering to their workers. It has been shown that many individuals are craving more social working environments with responses to our own recent ‘Returning For Good’ study revealing that 85% of global employees missed the social elements of the office while working remotely.

Despite staff clearly desiring a return to the workplace in one form or another, the study also revealed that half of employees felt that their mental health improved while working from home, which shows that many workplaces are not perhaps meeting the needs of the people that use them. Design can make all the difference; offices can support good mental and physical health through changes in areas such as lighting, acoustics, facilitation of social space and encouragement of movement. 

There is also a business case for providing well-thought-out spaces. Employers are becoming much more aware of the impact that stress and poor mental health can have on their workforces and are seeking the opportunity to make gains in whatever way they can. Along with methods such as providing dedicated mental health support, and more broadly being better attuned to the early warning signs of burnout, we are seeing an increasing number of firms looking to make changes to their physical office design in order to develop a more stress-free environment. But what methods are being adopted and what impact can they have on staff wellbeing?

Bringing the outdoors in

It might come as no surprise to learn that providing access to outdoor spaces can make a world of difference to the overall wellbeing of your workforce. And, if this is not achievable for your business within the current space you are leasing, then there are options for those willing to think creatively. Ensuring natural light is prioritised for the space employees spend most of their time is important, it provides a closer connection to the outside world can be highly effective at reducing workplace stress. This approach also boosts circadian light levels which creates stronger sleep cycles and can improve overall alertness and mood and can increase productivity across your workforce.

The benefits of embracing biophilia are also well-documented, yet many office designs have only recently looked to introduce more plants into their workspaces. This approach can bring the outside in with oxygen generating planters that can improve air quality. High CO2 & VOC levels in the air are also known to cause headaches and fatigue therefore introducing more plants can also have knock-on health benefits outside of mental wellbeing.

Space for everyone

It is also important for businesses and designers to recognise the specific makeup of the stakeholders that will be occupying the space and where there may be specific needs that should be met. Research highlights that 15-25% of the workforce is neurodiverse, so it is important to develop balanced spaces with areas that provide for the nuanced needs of everyone. For example, look to offer spaces where people know it is okay to be loud and talkative, areas for quiet work and/or for more introverted employees, and spaces for respite where people can go to decompress after an intense meeting. In addition to the right mix of space types, consider sensory experiences with different colours, textures, lighting, acoustic and scents throughout the workplace.

Colour and texture has a great influence on space and can provide emotive enhancements in an office environment. We are seeing the workplace take more and more cues from domestic and hospitality environments where materiality and forms support different activities from the energetic collaboration of restaurants and lobbies to the quiet relaxing nature of home environments and retreats to provide focus and decompression.

Collaboration/Social & Innovation spaces

The wider design layout and the way spaces are utilised is naturally another key factor to consider. Nearly half of employees have reported feeling lonely at work, so developing spaces where staff can be social and innovate together can make a world of difference when it comes to nurturing a greater sense of shared purpose in the office.

Businesses should consider the importance of embedding movement as a key tenet of the working day. We all understand the health benefits of regular exercise, and providing incentives to use stairs, rather than the lift, for example, can encourage employees to get up and move more regularly, which can certainly have a positive impact on well-being.  Shared facilities are another way to get staff to move around the floor; shared bins, printers, and coffee or refreshment stations encourage people to get up and move from one side of the office to another and also gives the opportunity to connect with colleagues in an informal way.

Activating these types of changes should have a positive overall impact on staff wellbeing, however, ensuring your space works for everyone is key, and culture and policy need to be aligned to achieve a truly inclusive design.

By Antonia Walmsley Principal designer at Unispace, the global workplace creation experts.