The space in which employees work and spend their time can have a significant impact on their emotional wellbeing. It can even go so far as to affect their outlook on life and their productivity! An employer seeking to maximize productivity and retain employees can’t overlook office space layout. Consider the following about the relationships between space and layout and productivity, health, and happiness.

Poor Conditions Lead to Unhappier, Less Productive Employees

Time and time again, data shows that cramped spaces, disorganized layouts, artificial lighting, and clutter can all lead to less productive–and less happy–employees. To be sure, an article published in The New York Times titled, “The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter” shared data suggesting that clutter can negatively impact mental well-being, especially amongst women. In fact, clutter can even induce the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, and amongst older adults, clutter is associated with life dissatisfaction.

Ensuring that your office space is well-organized and open and uncluttered isn’t the only thing you should be worrying about; artificial light can also be an issue, and is linked to serious health effects, including a disrupted sleep-wake cycle (which undoubtedly has an effect on other elements of physical and mental health). In addition to thinking about light, too much noise can lead to noise pollution, which can be stressful to work in.

Another thing that can affect mental health negatively is a diminished amount of personal space; when employees feel cramped and uncomfortable, this can be reflected in their work.

Tips for Improving Office Space Layout for Increased Productivity

Fortunately, increasing employees’ productivity and happiness may be as simple as making adjustments to your existing space. Some things to keep in mind when choosing, planning for, or developing a workspace include:

• Plenty of natural light and windows;
• Open spaces, which encourage dialogue and collaboration while also providing employees with some personal space, too;
• Providing a space that is just for relaxing; 
• Incorporating greenery; 
• Ensuring that there are plenty of storage options so clutter isn’t an issue;
• Creating a layout that is relevant to your employees and your industry.   

Our Team Can Help

Surely, you want your employees to be as happy and as productive as possible. At Carolina Services Inc., we can help. To learn more about our services for businesses in Charleston and surrounding areas, reach out to us directly by phone or by contacting us online.