2024
5 Office Essentials you need in your workspace
Creating an efficient and comfortable workspace is essential for productivity and overall well-being. Whether you're working from home or in a traditional office, having the right tools and setup can make a significant difference, and can transform your workspace into a hub of productivity.
1: Lighting: Brighten your Workspace
Good lighting is essential for maintaining focus and reducing eye strain. Natural light is ideal, but if that's not possible, invest in quality lighting options. A combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting can create a well-lit and comfortable workspace. Adjustable lamps and dimmable fixtures provide flexibility to tailor the lighting to your specific tasks and preferences. Warm lighting can help alleviate anxiety and tension, improving productivity and employee wellbeing.
2. Ergonomic Chairs: The Foundation of Comfort
Investing in an ergonomic chair is a game-changer for anyone spending long hours at their desk. It provides the necessary support to maintain proper posture, reducing the risk of back pain and discomfort. Look for a chair with adjustable features to customize it to your specific needs. Arm rests can help prevent repetitive strain injury whilst correct back support can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders. A comfortable chair not only improves your productivity but also contributes to your overall health and well-being.
3. Biophilic Workspace: Bringing nature indoors.
Biophilia is all about our deep, instinctive bond with the natural world –quite simply because it makes us feel better. The benefits of incorporating biophilia such as plants, into the workplace are endless. It helps improve productivity and well-being by enhancing mood and stimulating creativity, while also reducing stress. Having plants in your office can make you as much as 15% more creative and productive.
4. Breakout areas: Promoting Collaboration and creativity.
Dedicated breakout areas in your office provide a change of scenery and encourage spontaneous discussions and brainstorming sessions. These spaces can be furnished with comfortable seating, whiteboards, and other tools to facilitate collaboration. A well-designed breakout area offers employees a chance to step away from their desks and refresh their minds, often leading to more innovative ideas and solutions.
5. Coffee: Fuelling productivity and connection.
A good coffee machine with a well-stocked station is a must-have in any office space. Coffee not only provides a caffeine boost to kickstart the day, but it also acts as a social catalyst, encouraging casual conversations and fostering connections among colleagues. By providing a variety of coffee options, from espressos to herbal teas, this will help being colleagues together more by catering to different tastes.
Is your office ready for Generation Z?
A key contribution to attracting and retaining the right staff for a business is workplace environment. The modern office environment, many businesses are reinvigorating their workspaces to attract and retain the right staff.
“As the modern workplace continues to evolve, thoughtfully designed work spaces that include visual stimulation and flexible configurations are proven to improve employee performance.
“Recent research from Steelcase, the world’s largest office furniture company, found that today’s workforce is turned off by companies that are slow to adapt to the changing office world. To attract top talent, it’s important to invest in the look and layout of your office as it’s a strong selling point for the next interviewee coming through your door.
“People who fall into Generation Z, those born between 1994 and 2010, currently make up 28.7% of the world’s population. Also known as ‘Gen Z’ers’, they are digital natives who have grown up with iPhones, video games and Google – and many of them have never had to sit at a desk. As Generation Z enters the workforce, offices around the world are already making changes to attract the new talent.
“One change taking place is the switch from desktop computers to mobile devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. The emphasis on mobile technology and a strong Wi Fi connection means there’s less need for desks. Instead, many companies are opting for ‘work cafés’ where employees can set up their laptops at a long, shared table. Workers can move throughout the office, so they don’t have to be at the same workspace every day.
“Can your employees do work on a tablet or do they need a desktop PC? If you’re not ready to give up desks, don’t despair, many businesses are merging modern trends with traditional workspaces to make sure their office is a relevant, engaging and innovative place to work.
“The trick is balance, allowing for a mix of resident and social space where people can focus, collaborate and work effectively on a task. Since 85% of workers are concerned about their wellbeing at work, some businesses have added an in-house coffee shop with a barista or a quiet room for relaxation or massages, while others are opting for a modern work canteen with ping-pong tables. The changes are an effort to retain staff but especially attract new talent. There have been many global surveys conducted that show the ‘war on talent’ is one of the main areas of concern that ‘glocal’ businesses – global brands managed locally – are facing.
“A happy, healthy and engaged person is a more productive person, and by creating an efficient workspace, employers can significantly decrease absenteeism, increase productivity and improve employee retention.”
5 Office Essentials you need in your workspace
Creating an efficient and comfortable workspace is essential for productivity and overall well-being. Whether you're working from home or in a traditional office, having the right tools and setup can make a significant difference, and can transform your workspace into a hub of productivity.
1: Lighting: Brighten your Workspace
Good lighting is essential for maintaining focus and reducing eye strain. Natural light is ideal, but if that's not possible, invest in quality lighting options. A combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting can create a well-lit and comfortable workspace. Adjustable lamps and dimmable fixtures provide flexibility to tailor the lighting to your specific tasks and preferences. Warm lighting can help alleviate anxiety and tension, improving productivity and employee wellbeing.
2. Ergonomic Chairs: The Foundation of Comfort
Investing in an ergonomic chair is a game-changer for anyone spending long hours at their desk. It provides the necessary support to maintain proper posture, reducing the risk of back pain and discomfort. Look for a chair with adjustable features to customize it to your specific needs. Arm rests can help prevent repetitive strain injury whilst correct back support can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders. A comfortable chair not only improves your productivity but also contributes to your overall health and well-being.
3. Biophilic Workspace: Bringing nature indoors.
Biophilia is all about our deep, instinctive bond with the natural world –quite simply because it makes us feel better. The benefits of incorporating biophilia such as plants, into the workplace are endless. It helps improve productivity and well-being by enhancing mood and stimulating creativity, while also reducing stress. Having plants in your office can make you as much as 15% more creative and productive.
4. Breakout areas: Promoting Collaboration and creativity.
Dedicated breakout areas in your office provide a change of scenery and encourage spontaneous discussions and brainstorming sessions. These spaces can be furnished with comfortable seating, whiteboards, and other tools to facilitate collaboration. A well-designed breakout area offers employees a chance to step away from their desks and refresh their minds, often leading to more innovative ideas and solutions.
5. Coffee: Fuelling productivity and connection.
A good coffee machine with a well-stocked station is a must-have in any office space. Coffee not only provides a caffeine boost to kickstart the day, but it also acts as a social catalyst, encouraging casual conversations and fostering connections among colleagues. By providing a variety of coffee options, from espressos to herbal teas, this will help being colleagues together more by catering to different tastes.
Is your office ready for Generation Z?
A key contribution to attracting and retaining the right staff for a business is workplace environment. The modern office environment, many businesses are reinvigorating their workspaces to attract and retain the right staff.
“As the modern workplace continues to evolve, thoughtfully designed work spaces that include visual stimulation and flexible configurations are proven to improve employee performance.
“Recent research from Steelcase, the world’s largest office furniture company, found that today’s workforce is turned off by companies that are slow to adapt to the changing office world. To attract top talent, it’s important to invest in the look and layout of your office as it’s a strong selling point for the next interviewee coming through your door.
“People who fall into Generation Z, those born between 1994 and 2010, currently make up 28.7% of the world’s population. Also known as ‘Gen Z’ers’, they are digital natives who have grown up with iPhones, video games and Google – and many of them have never had to sit at a desk. As Generation Z enters the workforce, offices around the world are already making changes to attract the new talent.
“One change taking place is the switch from desktop computers to mobile devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. The emphasis on mobile technology and a strong Wi Fi connection means there’s less need for desks. Instead, many companies are opting for ‘work cafés’ where employees can set up their laptops at a long, shared table. Workers can move throughout the office, so they don’t have to be at the same workspace every day.
“Can your employees do work on a tablet or do they need a desktop PC? If you’re not ready to give up desks, don’t despair, many businesses are merging modern trends with traditional workspaces to make sure their office is a relevant, engaging and innovative place to work.
“The trick is balance, allowing for a mix of resident and social space where people can focus, collaborate and work effectively on a task. Since 85% of workers are concerned about their wellbeing at work, some businesses have added an in-house coffee shop with a barista or a quiet room for relaxation or massages, while others are opting for a modern work canteen with ping-pong tables. The changes are an effort to retain staff but especially attract new talent. There have been many global surveys conducted that show the ‘war on talent’ is one of the main areas of concern that ‘glocal’ businesses – global brands managed locally – are facing.
“A happy, healthy and engaged person is a more productive person, and by creating an efficient workspace, employers can significantly decrease absenteeism, increase productivity and improve employee retention.”