Non-monetary Employee Benefits: What Are the Advantages of a Good Workplace Design?
Good workplace design can increase productivity, performance, and the health and well-being of your workforce. This non-monetary employee benefit is crucial to know as an employer, as perks like competitive salaries, interesting incentives, and a fun culture could be enhanced with the right space.
Even if you’re an employer who believes in flexible working hours, issuing business leaves, extensive learning and development, generous work benefits, and attractive retirement pension schemes, you may have come to notice a lack of employee engagement within the workforce and grow concerned.
As you ponder your employee’s health and well-being, the concept of good workplace design crosses your mind and you start to ask questions like:
- Is the office layout appealing and resourceful to the employees?
- Does it encourage them to perform well and cultivate productivity?
- Is the office appealing to new potential talent and does it match company values?
In this article by Pacific Prime Singapore, we’ll look into the importance of a good workplace design, how to promote workplace wellness, and explore the main advantages of effective workplace design.
What is Workplace Design?
Google may bring up numerous explanations and examples of workplace design, but to put it simply, our definition refers to the process of designing, organizing, and planning a workplace area to optimize employee performance, productivity, safety, and above all, health and well-being.
From construction and manufacturing to offices, different work environments require carefully thought ideas that influence the overall layout. Generally speaking, workplace design has to benefit employees and provide them with the right environment for them to perform optimally and comfortably.
What Are the Main Advantages of Good Workplace Design?
The right design elements can bolster your workplace environment to higher levels for your employees. Good workplace design yields many advantages, including increased employee satisfaction, effective use of floor space, better employee productivity, effective supervision, and attracting talent.
Increased Employee Satisfaction
Employees who are not satisfied with the layout and ergonomics of their work environment may feel less motivated to perform optimally and retain high standards. By incorporating useful functions, beneficial resources, and healthy elements, workplace design can help boost overall job satisfaction.
Effective Use of the Office Floor Space
As an employer, it’s in your best interest to make as much use of the office environment as possible, especially if you’re renting an office space. A strong and effective workplace layout makes full use of all available space without overcrowding or limiting the functions of other areas.
Better Employee Productivity
Boosting the productivity of employees is a major advantage of a well-designed workplace. Natural, or biophilic, elements can substantially increase productivity. The same can be done by having areas in the office dedicated to certain tasks such as copying, scanning, printing, or faxing.
Storage for supplies can be clearly sectioned and labeled, allowing employees to find necessary items without wasting time.
Improved Cross-Team Collaboration
Positioning teams that regularly collaborate in the same area, or perhaps the same floor, can enhance cross-team interactions and relationships. If budget and space allow for it, organizations can take it a step further by designing common areas to encourage cross-departmental conversations.
Effective Supervision
A well-designed office layout allows managers to oversee the whole space without encroaching on employees and making them feel uncomfortable. This helps managers check productivity and easily move around while employees can go about their tasks without feeling like they are being micromanaged.
Attract Potential Candidates and Future Talents
If you’re looking for ways to promote your business to potential talent, having a well-designed workspace can certainly help. Your HR manager can confidently engage with potential candidates and attract their interest by referring to the workplace setup, which can also help your company stand out.
Appeal to Different Generations
Good office design is especially appealing to Millennial and Gen Z workers who prefer to work remotely. This is because it allows companies to integrate new technology to better support hybrid work while providing spaces for effective in-person interactions and collaboration for those who prefer it.
What Is the Relationship Between Workplace Design and Employee Wellness?
The relationship between workplace design and employee wellness has become increasingly popularized by employers, with more using the workplace to promote employee health and well-being. Together with a well-built environment, wellness programs can enhance an individual’s health and satisfaction.
4 Ways to Promote Workplace Wellness
From incorporating natural elements to reducing noise disturbances, there are several design elements to consider when designing a workplace environment that will appeal to your employees and attract potential talent. Here are 4 ways you can promote workplace wellness through design.
1. Mix in Nature
Did you know that nature can alleviate feelings of stress, improve concentration, and enhance mental stamina? With that in mind, it’s easy to see why biophilia, which means a love of light and living things, is a buzzword in the world of workspace design.
Nature combined with an engaging workplace layout has the ability to lift our spirits and help us feel relaxed and creative, which can only bolster productiveness. Fortunately, creating a biophilic space can be as simple as incorporating indoor plants that breathe fresh air into the workspace.
2. Allow Natural Light In
Lighting plays a crucial role in helping people to see and execute tasks safely and comfortably, especially in office space environments. Employees’ eyes are less strained as they look at monitors or analyze data and information on different mediums, whether it’s a screen or a whiteboard.
Additionally, natural light helps to regulate our circadian rhythm and hormonal activity during work. Plus, employees are less likely to experience headaches and fatigue when there is better, more natural lighting.
3. Keep Unwanted Noise Out
Although we are social beings that require interaction and close communication, there are times when we need private space and time to concentrate. Even though it’s easier said than done, a few changes to the workplace design make it possible to incorporate a peaceful and noise-free workplace.
The following tips for workplace design can give employees their own quiet space when they need it.
- Use materials that absorb or block sounds in the construction of walls, or add soundproofing material to prevent sound from escaping or vibrating through into adjacent spaces or rooms.
- Use pleasant sounds like water or birds chirping (ideally in outdoor space) to mask unwanted noise.
- Place pods in the office or work environment to create quiet or private locations.
4. Better Ventilation
Poor ventilation can negatively affect a person’s cognitive ability and performance level, and can also be a major distraction and prohibit employees from making sound decisions. Better air quality not only improves performance and productivity but also optimizes health at work.
Indoor pollutants like high carbon dioxide levels can cause headaches, nausea, respiratory irritation, and asthma. Employees with allergies are more susceptible to an allergic reaction, especially those that are affected by dust and pollen.
Interested in More Non-monetary Employee Benefits?
A good workplace design only represents the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the employer investing in their employees. With that said, non-monetary employee benefits come in many forms, packages, and levels.
As a leading health insurance broker and employee benefits specialist, Pacific Prime Singapore can provide further information on top non-monetary benefits such as group medical insurance, or even international health insurance plan to cover any unexpected medical costs for employees based abroad.
Contact us to discuss your employee benefits plan or for impartial insurance advice.
Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
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