Did you know that happiness directly affects your worker’s productivity? According to an Oxford University Said Business School study, happy workers are 13% more productive. One of the researchers, Jan-Emmanuel De Veve, even said that when workers are happier, they work faster and produce better results.
Thus, keeping their workers happy should be one of the priorities in any office. Here are some tips on increasing the happiness meter in any workplace.
Consider Your Layout
You can set up the office’s layout based on the output of your employees. They might want a more open working space so that it’s easier to collaborate with a co-worker. If your office has multiple teams or departments, you might want to introduce a variety of layout that fits that group’s needs.
While cubicles are good for helping your workers focus on their work and lessen distractions, some people may not thrive in such an environment. Hence, it’s best to keep the dividers low (or remove them altogether), so people won’t feel too isolated and promote teamwork.
Provide Easy Access To All Parts of The Office
No office worker wants to be like a rat in a maze. Blocking what could have been a valuable passageway with furniture also does not help anyone. Try setting up the desks or tables in small groups with space on either side if you work in a big, open office.
Remove any unnecessary decoration or furniture limiting your worker’s movements. Keep the office layout simple yet functional. Furthermore, it pays off to widen the gaps between sections or desks in the office, especially during emergencies.
Choose the Best Office Paint Colors
Colors can evoke certain emotions in humans, and it’s also one of the most affordable ways to help keep your workers motivated. Below are some of the best office paint colors for your workplace that painting companies recommend:
- Yellow. This color represents optimism, creativity, and friendliness. Match it with other light colors to stimulate positivity and happiness in your office.
- Green. This color is mostly found in nature, especially in vegetation. Looking at green colored objects can help relieve stress and clear our mind. Furthermore, it gives a sense of balance and harmony.
- Blue. If you want your team to improve their focus and overall efficiency, paint a bit of blue in your office. The color blue also lessens mental strain while also representing communication and logic.
- Orange. Those who want to exude a fun working environment should use the color orange. It’s a color that’s often associated with comfort and warmth.
- Grey. This is a neutral color that best complement bright colors. Grey is also used to make offices look sleek and modern. However, don’t use it as a stand alone color in your office since it can stimulate a depressing mood.
Give Your Team A Variety Of Workspace & Seating Options
A change of seating option and scenery is a good thing to break the monotony in the office. Basically, you don’t want your workers to be in the same place all the time, or they will easily get bored.
You might want to invest on multi-person tables, adjustable-height desks, and even beanie bags just to give them several seating options. Switching body positions will help them use other muscles or body parts and help them regain their focus at work.
Consider Adding a Training Space
Training is an important part of modern work, especially if you want your workers to be competitive and update their skills.
Thus, investing in a training space can pay off on the long run. Not only will it give your workers the privacy to work on their new found knowledge, it will also help them be more confident to take on harder tasks.
Don’t Forget about the Natural Light and View
Looking at the outside world through natural light will make your workers feel connected to the world.
You can use several design options to let natural light into your office. If the sunlight is too strong, you can use custom window coverings to block it.
Install more windows or use lighting solutions that can mimic natural light. Adaptive lighting, for example, can mimic the natural light outside based on the time of the day.
Conclusion
The success of your business relies on the productivity and output of your workers. Thus, keeping your employees happy and motivated should be a priority for any manager or business owner.
