Office design and furnishings have a significant impact on employee productivity and potential. Boring and bland furniture can put employees in a lazy mood. Employees will feel disinterested and this will reflect in the work they produce (Newlands, 2014). Office furniture also contributes to work related injuries and ailments. Sitting for long periods of time can increase the risk of obesity, musculoskeletal problems, diabetes, etc. Poor employee health will lead to increased absenteeism and lower productivity (Lifelong Learning Programme & Hesapro, 2016). Increasing awareness regarding the link between office furniture and productivity has led to innovations in office design. Some of these innovations are mentioned below:
Rethinking Open Plans Office places have evolved significantly in the past decade. Organizations today prefer open plan offices over traditional cubicles. Such offices encourage open communication, collaboration and peer-to-peer engagement. However, research has also shown that employees who work in open plan offices are more susceptible to distractions. Multiple conversations, phone calls, group meetings, etc., can all impair an employee’s ability to concentrate. This can lead to decreased productivity. Using plants to absorb noise, creating enclosed meeting areas, placing quiet signs around the office, etc., are some of the solutions that organizations can implement to reduce distractions in an open plan office (Moore, 2014). Curves over Lines To create modern and fresh spaces, office designers are opting for curves and shapes instead of conventional lines. An easy way to incorporate this aesthetic is by investing in curved executive desks. Round or oval shaped conference tables can be used instead of rectangular or square options. Using curves instead of lines is a way to break the monotony in interior design that employees are used to seeing during rest of their day. Colour Blocking Certain colours are known to boost creativity, productivity and happiness. Organizations can segment areas of the workspace with the use of colour blocking. A cost effective way to implement this idea is to give employees sitting close to one another accessories in contrasting colours. The in and out tray, mouse pad, pen pot, etc., for one employee could be bright orange while the same accessories for an employee sitting close by could be in blue. This simple idea can help employees keep their thoughts organized (Dishman, 2016). Ergonomics Ergonomics should be an important consideration in office design. Ergonomic furniture reduces the occurrence of aches and pains in the body. This reduces absenteeism and increases productivity. Organizations should invest in ergonomic solutions like an electric height adjustable desk. Such desks will give employees the option to stand and work. Standing for as little as an hour at work every day can reduce the occurrence of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc. (Leech, 2016). One organization from whom companies can purchase ergonomic executive office desks is AJ Products. More information can be found on their website.
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June 2017
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