As an employer, you are faced with the decision sooner or later of how to design the optimal workplace for your employees. Nowadays, there are various guidelines that you must adhere to when designing workspaces. The working environment has also been proven to play a significant role in the productivity and motivation of your employees. So what should you pay attention to when planning your office? We'll tell you here.
Before you take a look at our checklist for a good office workplace, we recommend that you first consider the question of why workspace design has become such an important factor nowadays. If you understand the relevance of an ergonomic workplace, you will subsequently have more pleasure and motivation to implement this concept yourself.
First of all, it is legally required that you provide employees with a workplace that safeguards their physical and mental health. Legal documents such as the Workplace Ordinance, the Health and Safety at Work Act or the Display Screen Equipment Ordinance are just a few of the guidelines that you as an employer must adhere to when designing your office.
Avoiding criminal prosecution should not, however, be the main motivator for providing your employees with a pleasant office workplace. It has been proven that employees are not only more motivated and committed to work in an environment in which they feel comfortable. Their psychological and physical health is also a significant factor for their performance. Those who are unwell usually don't do a good job or, in the worst case, even drop out due to illness.
One of the first and most important things you should pay attention to is ergonomics at the workplace. Back pain, tension and headaches are typical work-related ailments and the result of poor posture and a lack of ergonomic office equipment.
.You can only influence how your employees sit down to a limited extent, for example in training sessions in which you sensitize employees to healthy sitting at the workplace. What you can also do is to ensure ergonomic office chairs and desks. This means that the desk should be at a height of between 68 and 72 centimetres and ideally be adjustable so that employees can sometimes work standing up. Ergonomic design should also be ensured for other office equipment and hardware components such as chairs, screens and computer mice.
Reversible offices or the open space office have become indispensable in times of hybrid working. More and more employees are working from home and only come into the office once or twice a week. As a result, fixed workstations are passé and the open-plan office is a very popular model. Whether the employees have assigned workstations or not, the important thing is that there is enough space for everyone in the open-plan office.
Even on a day when the office is full, every employee should have at least 10 m2 for themselves. Those who feel cramped cannot concentrate, are more easily irritated and simply feel uncomfortable. Space is also an important factor for noise levels – the closer the workstations are designed, the easier it is for one person's customer conversations to disturb the other's work.
Even if rental space is expensive, it is therefore advisable not to skimp on it. You should also not forget: Make sure there is enough space for rescue routes!
Two other important factors in office planning are the light conditions and the noise level. It is particularly important in large rooms that the acoustics do not make too much of a dent. Therefore, make sure to improve the acoustics in the office as much as possible by providing sufficient soundproofing.
Lighting can also have an impact on employees' ability to concentrate. To ensure that individual employees have as much say as possible, we recommend divided ceiling lighting or individual table lamps that make individual light settings possible.
What you should also not forget when planning your office is the look. This also plays an important role in motivation. If you feel comfortable and have an appealing and organized workplace, it is easier for you to get down to work.
Plants, pinboards or plants are a decisive factor in office planning. The important thing is that it doesn't get out of hand: Splashes of color are beneficial to freshen up the office and brighten the mood, but should also not be a visual overload.
Are you unsure how much you can have? Talk to your employees and let them help decide, because their opinion is ultimately what counts.
Last, but not least, the technical and non-technical equipment is important when it comes to office planning. Non-technical equipment includes, for example, desks and office chairs, which should be ergonomic. Equally important, however, are the hardware and software with which you equip your office. For example, high-quality displays help you to give better presentations and pass on important information to colleagues and customers.
Fundamentally, modern and efficient technology makes everyday work easier for every employee. Software that runs flawlessly and video conferences that can be started with just a few clicks ensure a smooth workflow. Anyone who has ever had audio or video interruptions during an important meeting knows how nerve-wracking faulty technology can be. Therefore, when planning your office, make sure you have the right technical equipment. An investment here will pay off in the long term for you, your company and your employees!
As a company for conference and media technology, we are the ideal partner to support you with your office planning. We are designed to find tailored solutions for your office and have experience in equipping offices in various industries; from schools üover museums to corporate buildings: We take care of your space conception!
We at ComPeri advise you on your technical equipment and focus on your individual requirements. From planning to installation and regular maintenance, we are at your company's side in the greater Munich area and beyond on request. Do you have any questions or are you interested in our range of services? Then we look forward to your contact!