Your employees spend a lot of time at the office, so it’s essential it’s a clean and positive place to be. There are several ways you can cultivate a stress-free and productive workplace by making a few simple changes to your office. Here’s our top 5 ways to improve your company’s working environment…

1. Have recreational office areas

Having specific areas where employees can take time out to relax and recharge at the office can really improve productivity. A stressed, unhappy employee is not a productive one and it’s essential your staff have the opportunity to take a break when they deem it necessary. An established recreational area is a great way to inject some fun into your workplace and make the office a place where your employees want to be. Include features such as a chill out area with comfy chairs, pool tables and a coffee bar to enhance your office space.

Whilst your budget may indeed be lower, take a look at famous offices from big brands like Google and Innocent Drinks. You may be able to incorporate some of their recreational ideas into your company’s own workplace.

2. Add plants around the office

A bit of greenery can have surprisingly positive results on the overall wellbeing of your employees. Plants have several unique benefits to improve the environment of your workplace. They’ve been found to reduce stress, increase creativity and provide cleaner air and a more productive atmosphere for office employees. Certain plants such as aloe, spider plants and peace lilies are best suited to an office setting and can have a real impact on staff spirits. Make sure you stay on top of cleaning your office plants to avoid adding extra dust to your workplace and reversing their positive benefits.

3. Provide variety

Nobody wants to be doing the same work, day in, day out. Prevent your employees becoming bored and disinterested in their work by mixing up their to do list. Trust your employees to decide what tasks they want to complete during their day and work with them to determine how they operate best. Being flexible with your employees is an essential attribute of a great employer. You’ll have a happier, more engaged team as a result.

4. Have incentive schemes for employees

Employees will want to feel valued and appreciated for their hard work. Focusing on positive encouragement and providing a worthwhile incentive scheme will motivate your team to meet targets. Incentives could range from a day of paid leave, to dinner vouchers or experience days. This will improve your office working environment by inspiring your employees to generate results for your business and gain incentives in return. 

5. Provide a clean and organised workplace

You can’t have a positive, productive working environment in a dirty, poorly organised office space. Having a clean workplace not only makes your employees much happier in their work environment, but it’s important to minimise staff illness too. A clean office signals to your employees you care about their physical and mental wellbeing and are invested in making the office a happy place to be.

A hygienic and clean office is also essential if your business hosts visiting clients, who will judge your workplace to be a reflection of your company as a whole. It’s not just the dirt you should focus on. The organisation of your office matters too, as a tidy workplace also has positive benefits for your staff.