The impact of workspace on productivity and company culture
Where you work has a huge impact on how you work — after all, you spend over one third of your day at the office. Studies conducted by Gensler shows that a well-designed office space can foster a healthy company culture and increase the productivity of employees by over 20%.
However, despite the studies and statistics, a significant number of employers still tend to overlook the design of the office space. It isn’t just about Feng Shui or crystals and manifestation; it’s about creating a welcoming work environment and getting the job done. By designing the right workspace, you can bolster your team’s morale, increase employee retention, and positively impact your company culture.
In this piece, we’ll walk you through three ways we enhance our company culture, by creating an office space that our employees love coming back to every single day. And maybe, you can implement them in your workspace too!
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DOWNLOAD GUIDE1. ‘Open’ space and ‘collaborative’ space are not the same thing
There’s no doubt that the office way of life is always evolving. Gone are the days when you’d walk into an office and see rows of isolated, yet identical cubicles.
A few years ago, when the millennials took over, an open floor plan seemed like the perfect solution. However, studies have shown that open offices are often associated with less productivity, higher stress levels, and low employee satisfaction. And that’s why, to combat this problem, businesses are now shifting towards implementing a collaborative office space.
A collaborative workspace is one that is designed, keeping in mind the different types of work activities your employees perform on a daily basis.
For instance, you can create personal spaces that employees can customise to fit their unique preferences, social areas for collaboration and bonding, meeting rooms for brainstorming sessions, and ‘thinking rooms’ for when they need some peace and quiet. You can also implement breakaway areas and fun features like pool and foosball tables to make the workspace more dynamic, in turn, encouraging employee interaction and promoting a healthy company culture.
At The Scalers, we’ve implemented a collaborative workspace where teams can enjoy their own personal space that they can set-up according to their preferences. They also have access to a common area that has a foosball table, a pantry stocked with snacks and tea, and comfortable couches to kick back and relax. Our teams also get unlimited access to the meeting rooms, phone booths, and activity rooms.
2. An ergonomically designed workspace is key
When you’re planning your office space, comfort is one of the most critical parameters to consider. With most people spending 40+ hours at work every week, ergonomic workstations are the need of the hour.
In fact, many designers across the globe are introducing the concept of ‘hygge’ into their modern office designs. ‘Hygge’ is a Danish word that is defined as creating a mood of coziness and comfort, which is associated with wellness, contentment, and the feeling of home.
At The Scalers, we embrace this concept by providing our teams with ergonomic desks and chairs, well-lit rooms, a steady and reliable internet connection, and functional computer terminals.
3. A dull workspace can impact productivity
Perception is reality — dull workplaces can be significantly uninspiring for employees. If your office space is haphazardly strung together, your employees are not going to look forward to coming to work. This, in turn, leads to lower morale and productivity.
And that’s why, it’s essential to pay attention to detail and invest in creating a lively, energetic, and fun workspace. Add decor to your office space that not only gives it a unique character, but is also a reflection of your company culture and what your business stands for — whether that’s with art, furnishings, or even plants. Ensure that your office space is hygienic, clutter-free, and well lit. Avoid bright, fluorescent lighting as it can frequently cause headaches and increase anxiety and stress.
The biophilia hypothesis states that there is an instinctive bond between humans and other living systems. By installing large glass windows overlooking the city, or placing green plants in every room, you’re bringing a piece of nature into your workspace.
A piece of research conducted by Washington State University showed that participants who were working in a room with live plants had a lower blood pressure than those that didn’t. The study also proved that 10% of the participants felt more attentive when there were among plants. In fact, at The Scalers, we encourage our employees to decorate their desks with a dash (or two) of greenery!
If you want to build a software development team with us, or if you have any questions about our services, you can reach out to us by filling out the contact form. One of our senior executives will get in touch with you.
