Workplace 2021 - thoughts

There is an emerging opportunity to use workplace design to promote a holistic state of well-being for people at work.  When organisations provide work environments that support user control, natural elements and daylight, and changing postures, they directly address the physical and psychological health of people—enhancing engagement, creativity, innovation, and retention.  As the boundaries between life and work increasingly begin to blur, the workplace is beginning to take on a new role, that of community, a town hall if you like, a place where an organisation's people congregate, socialise and build relationships rather than simply work.  Efficient production simply becomes a positive inevitable outcome of such communities. 

Isolated wellness programs are now a common fixture in the modern workplace; free bowls of fruit, complimentary gym memberships, volunteer programmes.  Whilst such initiatives are welcome, they fail to address the person as a whole; encompassing physical and mental health whilst addressing performance, engagement and fulfilment.  Workplace design in the past did not address such issues, in fact it had the sterile description of 'Office Design', focusing on functional requirements to support an individual's productivity in isolation.  This focus on 'space-centric productivity' design is being replaced by a 'people-centric' approach to workplace design that focuses on outcomes related to quality of experience and life, with the assumption that the organisation will benefit from improved employee engagement, creativity, innovation, productivity and retention.  There is a burgeoning level of research indicating that addressing the health and well-being in workplace design has many benefits including;

• Improving recruitment and retention of talent

• Reducing costs of absenteeism

• Reducing the debilitating effects of stress

• Reducing health costs

• Improving employee engagement and fulfilment

• Improving team morale by creating a socially engaging, supportive environment

As we move through this decade, the impact of Generation Y (so called Millenials) on the workforce, is becoming increasingly influential.  Representing 50% of the available workforce, this generation is characterised by a tendency to blend work and personal life, bringing a more holistic version of themselves into the office.  The need for community and collaboration is important to these younger workers.  This requires a broader more holistic conceptualisation of what the workplace is, to meet such needs.  Organisations need to sponsor innovative holistic workplace design that focuses on health, well-being and community, to attract and retain such a workforce.

Incorporating well-being concepts into workplace design

User Control

Many studies have shown that user control over their immediate surroundings is very important in establishing a sense of well-being.  Innovative use of task lighting schemes, anti-glare blinds, and localised ventilation, heating and cooling strategies are all very important in establishing an individual's sense of control on their environment.  Workplace designers should increasingly focus on providing the individual with the means and authority to control their physical environment in order to promote positive mental health. 

Biophillia

As natural beings, we have to acknowledge that we are fundamentally linked to our natural surroundings, affecting health, mood and physical well-being.  In conceptualising workspace design solutions, we need to move away from the sterile production aesthetic of the 20th century and embrace the use of Biophillia - introducing planting and natural materials into the workplace.  Optimising access to external views, spaces and nature in our designs touches the deepest parts of our animalistic instincts having beneficial effects on well-being and increased productivity. 

Lighting

An extension of this approach, is addressing the corrosive effects of prolonged exposure to stable artificial light.  Occupying such environments is innately unnatural.   Contemporary lighting design in the workplace should focus on provision of natural light as much as possible.  Further, creating opportunities for contrast in lighting produces different ambiences in the space, promoting different feelings in the occupants.  Focus on task lighting strategies, again permitting user control over their environment as well as considering circadian lighting solutions, all contribute to a varied environment that enhances health and well-being, whilst making for interesting interior design solutions. 

Noise

It is often assumed that silence is required for concentration, but not necessarily so.  Natural background noise, such as running water or birdsong, has in fact been shown to improve concentration and productivity.  Minimising artificial noise is very important in protecting the well-being and productivity of the workforce.  Designers need to consider the displacement of noise distractions such as phone calls and noisy teams.  Quiet spaces, telephone booths and colocation of noisy teams are all valid strategies in ensuring noise distraction is controlled.

Movement

Studies have shown that people can spend up to 9.5hrs per day sitting, leading to more health risks than smoking!  This needs to reduce to 3 hours to reduce such health risks.  Innovative workplace design promotes changing postures and movement in the workspace; providing activity based settings to allow people to move, standing desks and alternative workstations, all help to promote movement.  Walking meetings are even becoming popular.  It is about providing opportunity, choice, education and a change in culture to promote dynamic movement amongst the workforce, leading to a healthy, vibrant, convivial and social workplace.  Such strategies assist in developing a sense of community, actively reducing loneliness.  Employers can enhance this further by developing policies that allow employees to build socialising into their workflow.  Designers can assist by offering spaces to promote connection and serendipitous interaction.  It all leads to a vibrant culture that only improves corporate image, creativity and productivity.

When well being principles are embedded into the design of a workspace, an organisation's people are surrounded by it, making it impossible for them not to be influenced by it.  Influencing behaviour in this way through design, education and culture will have a positive impact upon an organisation's productivity.  Providing a working environment that holistically enhances a workforce's well being, health and fulfilment leads to an engaged, creative and highly productive team.  It is also extremely rewarding to watch it happen and make a real difference.