Businesses are continually looking for ways to enhance employee retention, morale, and productivity in the workplace. In the not-so-distant past, it was thought all those things could be achieved by taking the Silicon Valley approach and adding a ping pong table and free snacks to the workplace.
Today’s reality is different — it’s more subtle and more effective. It turns out that employees don’t need an office slide to be happy at work. They need their basic human requirements to be met. In this post, we’ll run through some key additions that employers can incorporate into their workplace to enhance employee happiness, touching on security, wellness, and making sure the space offers a pleasant sensory experience.
Controlled Access
Employees want to feel safe and secure while they’re at work, and, at its core, that means ensuring that only authorized personnel are able to access the workspace. With commercial door access control systems, businesses have the capacity to control who gets access to which spaces within the facility, giving employees peace of mind that everyone on the inside of the building has the right to be there. It’s also an effective way to streamline the employee entry/exit process, making it easier for employees to come and go as they please.
Natural Light
Having high security credentials is a necessity for employees. Natural light, on the other hand, is something that employees actually want. One study found that natural light in the workplace was the number one office perk, helping to boost morale, productivity, and energy levels. You can’t make the sun shine, but you can make sure that it can find its way into your office by expanding the space’s capacity to receive natural light. Upgrading (or cleaning) the windows, removing items from near light access points, and choosing a light color palette for the walls can make a meaningful difference.
Acoustic Conditioning
Some employees are unaffected by workplace noise. For others, it’s a major distraction that not only costs morale, but can also majorly impact productivity.
There are multiple strategies for helping to create a quieter work environment. Incorporating soft materials such as carpets or acoustic ceiling panels can help dampen noise levels. It’s also recommended to keep noisy office elements — such as collaborative areas and printers — away from the general working area. If possible, look at creating a silent work zone within the workplace.
Various Uses
Modern employees want their workplaces to be multi-functional and to cater to multiple needs, many of which each employee will have every single day. They want to have a space where they can engage in focused work, but they also want areas in which they can connect with their colleagues. Well-stocked kitchen areas and relaxation zones are also highly coveted by employees. Most of those things can be incorporated into workspaces if there’s enough space. Ultimately, making sure that your employees are happy with your workplace is about ensuring that it meets their many human needs. Do that, and you should find that you have a happier, more productive workforce.
