How to create a happier work environment in 5 steps

A recent report by England’s Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, revealed more than 440,000 cases of work-related stress, depression and anxiety in 2015 costing the UK economy up to an estimated £100billion.

So what can companies do to create a happier workplace?

Workspace designer, Guy Crabb, Managing Director at ODB Group, says there are a number of simple ways that organisations can change their office surroundings to encourage productivity, wellbeing and staff retention.

“Health and wellbeing tops the corporate agenda – but – while employees benefit from health and fitness programmes, flexible working and workplace counselling, the physical working environment has been slow to adjust,” he says. “I believe the answer lies around us. The physical environment has a huge part to play in how we feel at work.

1. Disguise your office so it doesn't look like one

Crabb says he worked with a client in the gaming industry which had an office more like an insurance centre than a funky global brand. His answer? Transforming the space to make it more industrial and raw.

“An overly corporate looking office screams anxiety the moment you walk through the door. Transforming your space into something a bit ‘artist’s studio meets lounge’ will change the mind-set and make staff feel more at ease.

“You can make a space look of things. We’ve stripped back offices to the structure revealing air conditioning ductwork and cables overhead as well as adding surface finishes such as micro concrete and wood floors with a reclaimed look.”

2. Create a home away from home

Another way to create the right environment at work is to make staff feel like they’re working from home. Crabb says: “There is no rule that says an office needs to look corporate and a formal client facing zone can be designed completely differently from staff areas. You can make staff feel more at home by incorporating domestic soft furnishings and bedside table lamps.

“We’ve filled spaces with toys and hung vintage lamp shades from the ceiling. This is a relatively affordable way to make a corporate environment look and feel more homely and will make people less anxious about the workplace so they can be more productive.”

3. Turn open plan into broken plan

Crabb believes we should move away from open-plan offices towards a workspace that is divided into zones.

“Open-plan offices landscaped with the inward facing cubicle-type workstations were born out of the need to save money. We now know these environments are not conducive to a happy workplace.

“Broken-plan, where the space is divided into zones, is a great way to make staff feel more comfortable. With new technology we no longer need to be tied to a desk and new cost-efficient ways of landscaping the office can be used to create different zones."

4. Provide welfare facilities

When creating a new workspace, employers should factor staff welfare into the design.

“We have been working with several game developers recently,” Crabb says. “Their employees are creatives whose work patterns aren’t a typical nine to five. They might not start until 10 in the morning and it’s not unusual for them to be pulling an all-nighter.

“We’ve provided showers, so staff can pop out for a run in the afternoon, and a full kitchen, complete with ovens and hobs, and a breakout area so they can cook a meal and put their feet up or continue to test games with a bite to eat. Some companies will hire a chef to cook for everyone or use a room for yoga or art classes. It’s about helping staff to unwind.

“Sometimes peace and quiet is the most important thing. We’ve created designated quiet rooms where staff can get their heads down to write. They book these out when they need concentration time.”

5. Add a touch of the green stuff

Crabb also highlights the importance of bringing the outdoors in when creating the right environment for employees.

“A 2011 study by Norway’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences found that the presence of indoor plants led to significantly improved performance on tasks requiring sustained attention and concentration. You can put plants on top of sterile items of furniture such as filing cabinets to make the space feel more uplifting.

Conclusion

“Employers are increasingly aware that competition with rivals extends beyond the pay cheque. A happy workplace will help you to retain and attract the best talent as well as create a more productive workforce that will suffer from fewer sick days. There is no ‘one size fits all’ – the way people work varies from sector to sector. Try to understand how your staff work and what will make their lives easier and less stressful.”