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Owning or managing a business from an office can be hard work. There is so much to do, many plates to spin and balls to juggle. There’s no doubt that it can be gratifying work, but it is also challenging.
You need to balance the needs of your staff with the needs of the business, not to mention all the administrative overheads and day to day operations of the firm. Every day is a new challenge with many tasks to attend to.
However, is your office space as comfortable as it can be? Creature comforts are definitely required to keep your staff (and yourself) happy, productive and comfortable at work.
In this helpful article, we’ll answer the question: should you be investing more into the comfort of your office space?
Magic Beans
You should consider renting a coffee machine for the office. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that caffeine is a mild stimulant that helps billions of people every day wake up, focus on their tasks and push the economy along. How would you feel without your cup of joe each morning?
So, caffeinate your staff, and they will be productive for the business and better for the bottom line.
The second reason is that the office coffee machine becomes an impromptu gathering spot for your staff as they make their morning brew. They will chat, share ideas and sometimes even collaborate at the coffee machine. This is a great bonus for staff morale. Remember – improved morale is improved productivity as well.
These are the reasons you should definitely rent a coffee machine for your office.
Ergonomic Workstations
The next thing to consider is making your workstations ergonomic.
Ergonomics means that your workspaces are designed for optimal use to minimize the risk of injury. This means that the chair, the desk, the keyboard and the mouse are all positioned in the best way possible.
You can hire an ergonomic specialist to come and assess your workstations to see if they are correctly positioned.
This will cost, but if you think about the cost of having a workplace injury on your hands – not to mention the headache, it is a worthy investment.
Your staff will also appreciate it, as they won’t leave sore and stiff each day.
Comfortable Couches and Chairs for Breaks
Another idea to upgrade the comfort levels of your office space is to put some comfortable couches and chairs into your nooks and break rooms.
Having comfortable seating in a nook means that your staff can duck into space to meet and brainstorm while remaining comfortably seated. After all, you pay them for their great ideas and skills, so they should be relaxed and comfy while they work for you.
Also, consider cozy seating in your break rooms, so your people can relax during their allocated break times. They might read, listen to music, play a game on their phone or catch up on life admin during their breaks, on a lovely couch or soft seat.
Nap Rooms
This is an innovative idea straight out of Silicon Valley. Your big tech companies such as Google, Facebook and the like all have napping stations or pods at their big offices. Employees are encouraged to nap during their breaks.
Scientific research suggests that a short nap can boost productivity after waking. If you want your best staff to perform at their peak, you should consider allowing them a short nap in the afternoon during the 3 o’clock drowsy period.
If you create rooms with beds or recliners, your people can have a quick nap and return refreshed and ready to work harder for you.
Outside Space
Does your office have an outside space? Is there an option for one? You could make the roof into a relaxing garden space or your balconies comfortable with seats and plants.
Allowing your staff to get some sunshine will mean they get a daily dose of vitamin D, essential for good health and wellbeing. It will also boost morale if they get outside for some sun a few times a day.
You could set up a relaxing outdoor space and encourage your teams to utilize it for lunch and tea breaks.
A Cozy Conclusion
In this helpful article, we’ve answered the question: should you be investing more into the comfort of your office. The answer is a firm yes, and we’ve given several suggestions as to how you can up the comfort levels of your office space. Your teams will definitely enjoy the upgraded space, and their productivity will rise because of it. Remember – a dollar invested into your space and people is two or more than return to you as profit because your staff will enjoy their working environment and want to stick with the company.
You may also like: What is a Flexible Office Space?
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