For some time now, forward thinking companies have recognised the link between good employee health and greater productivity. Staff well being is a top priority in the workplace, but supporting it may well mean going beyond the basics of a comfy chair and looking out at the wider office environment.
1. Ergonomic Furniture
The idea that the employer bears no responsibility for an employee’s health is an outdated one. The knowledge that back problems, joint pain, muscular strain and injury and depression and anxiety can all be a result of a poor working environment has become a natural consideration for modern employers.
It is commonplace today to see offices furnished with ergonomically designed furniture. This style of office equipment offers better support for the human body and the way in which it moves. Chairs with greater support for the back, neck and arms help to reduce injuries to the spine and strain on the joints and muscles of the entire body, as well as increasing circulation. In addition to providing manually adjustable support, the design continually adapts to the body’s movements, giving consistent support during the operation of a variety of tasks. This further reduces strain where repeated movements are necessary.
While contemporary office furniture has a significant role in the healthy office, it is really only the first step towards achieving a workspace that promotes wellness. Curved desks and easily accessible work and technology stations are all very well, but for a more holistic approach, how and where the furniture is laid out is also important.
2. In Touch With Nature
We know that artificial lighting has a negative effect on the working surroundings and that natural daylight is far better for employee well-being. There is further evidence that this sense of positivity is not merely restricted to the lighting. Having a view of the outdoor natural environment has the same effects. Similarly to a lack of light, the absence of an outside view, where trees and shrubbery can be gazed upon, affects the state of mind. Contrary to the opinion that placing desks near windows acts as a distraction for employees, the opposite appears to be true. The opportunity to connect visually with nature actually encourages deep thinking, which in turn improves innovation and creativity.
3. Sensory stimulation and colour
While natural daylight and a good view has a positive impact on the senses, the indoor environment plays an equally important part. Lack of visual stimulation inside the office can have a dulling effect on the senses, reducing productivity and output. While an expanse of neutral coloured furniture and ddcor looks neat and co-ordinated, it does not provide a stimulating view for workers. Adding some variety in shape, colour, height and texture provides a more dynamic environment. Bringing in natural elements, such as wood, cork and natural fibres and combining these with variations in furniture heights and colours can all improve the visual outlook of the office. Many office furniture suppliers, such as Calibre Office Furniture and Interiors, can supply contemporary office furniture in a variety of wood shades and upholstery colours that can be mixed and matched to contribute to this visual variation. Adding plants and greenery also gives a sense of bringing the outdoors inside, further enhancing the motivating atmosphere of the workplace.
