There are many factors that impact productivity, but few more than the office environment.
You cannot expect your team to work at a high level each day if they are working in a space that is not conducive to positivity, which means that there are often upgrades that you can make in the office to improve productivity.
It is not always clear what these are, so this post will take a look at a few upgrades that are worth considering.
During a time when many businesses are bringing workers back into the office either full-time or as a hybrid work model, you want to make sure that the space you provide is welcoming and will help staff to be productive each day.
Decluttering & Regular Cleaning
A good starting point is to declutter the entire office. Clutter can not only make the office harder to navigate, but it can also create stress. This could make it difficult for your employees to focus and feel relaxed at work.
Decluttering can make a big difference to how the office both looks and feels, which should have a positive impact on productivity.
Additionally, it is worth hiring professional cleaners to keep the office looking clean throughout the week – this will help to maintain productivity levels, keep staff happy, and impress any visitors that you have to the building.
Ergonomic Chairs
Your employees will spend a huge amount of their time each week in their office chairs. Therefore, you want to make sure that they have a chair that is comfortable, will provide support and help them to maintain a good posture.
Although ergonomic chairs can be expensive, you will find that they are an important purchase that will make a big difference to productivity and the well-being of your employees.
If you are in the process of bringing staff back into the office, a nice new ergonomic chair could be a great perk that makes the transition a little easier for them.
Tech Upgrades
Obviously, you need to make sure that you have the right tech in place for your employees so that they can work to their full potential.
Suitable computers, high-quality software and fast and stable internet will be the foundation that will help your employees to be productive each day.
You should also look into software and online tools that can automate tasks – this can make an enormous difference to productivity levels.
Maximize Natural Light
Natural light is important for our health and can have a massive impact on productivity levels. Therefore, you will want to get as much natural light as possible coming into the office to brighten the space and keep your employees happy and focused. There are a few ways that you can do this, such as:
- Making sure windows aren’t blocked
- Adding new windows
- Adding a skylight
- Using light colours on the walls
- Strategic placement of mirrors
- Keeping blinds up/curtains open
Greenery
Along with natural light, plant life is also proven to be good for both physical and mental well-being. This means that plants can be a great addition to the office and should help to improve morale and productivity levels.
They can also be a great way to add some colour and life into the office space – just make sure that you know how to properly care for them, as every type of plant has different needs.
Additionally, you do not want to overdo it when it comes to greenery – you do not want the office to feel like more of a jungle than a place of work!
Comfortable Break Area
You also need to make sure that you have a comfortable break area for your team. It is important that your team take regular breaks throughout the day so that they can disconnect, recharge, and enjoy time with colleagues.
Burnout is a serious issue in recent times and often stems from employees being overworked. By providing a comfortable break area, you will encourage staff to take breaks away from their desk so that they can properly disconnect from work and spend time with one another.
The break room should have comfortable furniture, food and drink facilities, and entertainment options (a TV, books/magazines, pool table, just as a few ideas).
Office Supplies
If your team is to be productive each day, you need to make sure that they have all of the office supplies that they need for their role.
It is surprising just how quickly a team of employees can burn through supplies, so you need to make sure that you always have enough.
A good example of this is printing and toner ink, which can run out very quickly in an office setting. Therefore, it is a good idea to buy in bulk from trusted suppliers like Cartridge People.
At places like this, you can find cartridges from the top brands for low prices, which will help you to stock up on the best printing supplies while saving money.
Tasteful Decor
It might not seem like a priority, but the decor can have a huge impact on productivity. You cannot expect employees to work to their full potential and be positive in the workplace if they are working in a dreary office with no character.
Therefore, you want to decorate the office tastefully so that it is bright, attractive, and welcoming while still retaining professionalism.
It is also helpful to encourage staff to personalize their own workspaces – this can help to keep morale high and help employees feel more engaged with the business.
If you are looking to boost productivity in the office, these are all upgrades that should help. The environment that you provide for your team can have an enormous impact on productivity levels, so this is always an area that is worth thinking about.
In addition to boosting productivity levels, you should also find that office upgrades help to improve the morale of your employees and should improve the overall atmosphere at work – this is something that everyone can benefit from and should help to keep your employees loyal and engaged at work.
