Enticing employees to return to the office isn’t an easy feat.
Many businesses in Sydney are now working hard to bring their people back from remote working. While remote working comes with some significant benefits, certain organisations need their workers back in the CBD, for a range of different reasons. To bring back your employees and ensure that they are happy at work, quality office design is a must.
Let’s take a look at some seriously important statistics.
In 2022, Owl Labs conducted a survey on remote working and employee attitudes. They found that 66% of employees would start looking for another job straight away if the option for remote working was removed. The same survey found that 39% would quit immediately. These findings have been vindicated in 2023, with many businesses losing employees over the remote working debate.
So, what does it take to bring back happy employees? It takes balance, understanding, a fair deal, and of course, excellent office design with a focus on user experience.
What do your employees really want out of an office space?
Before you make any decisions about the design of your new workplace, it’s critical to ask yourself this question. Even better, ask your employees. A company-wide survey can be gold when it comes to finding out more about what your workers want and need from the office. And the simple act of sending out that survey shows that you care.
It’s likely that your results will show you the following about your employees:
- They want to feel comfortable.
- They want to feel productive.
- They want technology and connectivity that works.
- They want to feel relaxed at work.
- They want the ability to choose.
- They want flexibility.
- They want to feel valued.
- They want to feel proud of their workplace.
These answers (and the ones you receive in your survey) provide an excellent foundation. They tell you exactly what kind of workplace your people will return to.
What don’t employees want from an office?
This question is just as important when it comes to determining the perfect office design for your space in the era of remote work. What don’t your people want?
- They don’t want to feel stressed at work.
- They don’t want dull workplaces.
- They don’t want to feel forced to work a certain way.
- They don’t want poor-quality technology and connectivity.
- They don’t want to deal with noise.
- They don’t want constant distraction.
The bottom line is this: you need to create a workplace that provides comfort and promotes wellbeing. It needs to be a space that your people make a conscious choice to return to. If your employees are simply forced to come back to the office, productivity will not increase. Instead, it will likely decline. Workers will not be happy, and many will likely resign.
The best office designs to bring your employees back
These are the best types of office to attract employees back to the workplace.
An office designed for health and wellbeing
Employees are now more conscious than ever about how their workplace impacts their health. This is exactly as it should be. The good news is that many businesses understand this. Therefore, they are taking steps to create an office environment that is conducive to better health and wellbeing. This is absolutely essential for creating an attractive proposition for staff.
But how do you create this type of working environment?
Designing an office that promotes better physical and mental health requires a number of elements. An experienced office design firm is a must. At Niche Projects, we help businesses of all sizes build healthy workplaces for all kinds of employees. To do this, we ensure that our clients are making the most of:
- Ergonomics
- Quality lighting
- Quiet spaces
- Comfort
- Ease of communication.
These are just some of the key elements that must be included in an office that is designed for better physical and mental health. To find out more, get in touch with Niche Projects today.
An activity-based office
Activity-based working is a strategy used by workplaces all over the world. It involves creating an office that provides different areas for different types of activities. The strategy is built upon the realisation that employees perform a range of different activities throughout the day. This depends of course, on their role and the type of business.
Creating a workplace that provides different areas for different types of activities can boost happiness, employee wellbeing, and reduce stress. When people have access to a designated quiet area or collaborative workplace, they will be much more productive. After all, it gives workers more choice. If they need to work quietly on one particular task, they can, without fear of distraction or excessive noise.
Offering a range of working areas for your people instils trust and happiness. After all, your people will be happier when they have more choice.
A biophilic office
Biophilia is the need for humans to be close to natural elements, like plants and water. Therefore, a biophilic office is one which includes natural elements in most aspects of its design. There are many offices around the world that do their best to create a veritable jungle for their people, and there have been some significant benefits.
One particular study found that plants in the office can increase productivity by around 15%. Another research suggests that placing a human into a space completely devoid of plant life or natural elements kills creativity and productivity. It also increases stress levels and leads to mental health issues.
Including the right number of plants, along with ample natural light, will form a fantastic foundation for your biophilic office. Add green walls to this and long planters wherever possible. Using plants to reduce noise instead of other acoustic solutions will also go a long way toward creating a truly biophilic office.
A hotdesking office
This one is a little tricky. Traditionally, employees don’t work as well as they could in a hotdesking situation. However, if it’s done right, a hotdesking office or co-working style office can reap serious benefits for your business. There are obvious financial advantages to businesses that are able to cut down on office space and use a hotdesking system.
However, the key here is creating an environment that your people want to spend time in. The average hotdesking office is definitely not this. Combine the above elements, including plants, ergonomic furniture, and flexible working areas in your office. Doing this will give you a much better chance of creating a hotdesking office that is an attractive option.
Expert office design to create an attractive office for your employees
At Niche Projects, we’re experts in all facets of office design and office fitouts. We understand the struggle that many businesses have been facing since the pandemic. These days, it’s imperative that a company creates an office that attracts employees based on merit. Attempting to force employees to return will only cause problems.
If you’d like to discuss re-designing your Sydney office space, get in touch with Niche Projects today. We’d love to hear from you.
