Invest in your employees with functional office furniture

Did you know that investing in your employees by outfitting your workplace with functional, comfortable, and adaptable office furniture is one of the best financial decisions you can make for your organization?

Employee Engagement in the Workplace: Is it important?

Some people may take employee engagement for granted, thinking that once staff members come to work and do their job, there’s no need for further employee engagement efforts. However, engaged employees can be a huge asset for companies. Research has shown that companies with high levels of employee engagement have more efficient and effective staff. These staff members are more customer-focused. They have increasingly creative thought processes and they take fewer sick days. When staff members are engaged in their work environment and enthused about the tasks at hand, they’re more likely to go above and beyond. They’ll also be exceedingly motivated to help their company reach new heights.

So, employee engagement is extremely beneficial on the business front — but how can employers effectively engage their employees and inspire productive outcomes? Well, designing office space layouts can actually help a lot. Piqued your interest? Here’s more about the impact of office design on employee productivity.

How Can Well-Organized Office Space Help Facilitate Employee Engagement?

Believe it or not, office design and productivity go hand in hand. Gone are the days when tech firms and hip restaurants were the only businesses with open-concept spaces and funky furniture. Now, more conservative industries are embracing the idea of organized workspaces that veer off the path of traditional, bland cubicle farms. Experts say that attractive, functional workspaces are becoming increasingly important for companies looking to attract and retain new talent —especially when they’re looking to grow a millennial population. An office’s energy says a lot about a company’s culture, which is extremely influential when it comes to employee engagement. Creating a space that promotes collaboration, allows focus and concentration, and permits workers to move freely and change postures when needed will work to improve employee morale. You might be surprised by how accommodating spaces and greater freedom can increase employee engagement, but the results will speak for themselves.

Why Is Employee Engagement So Important in the Workplace?

Many employers expect top-notch productivity and creativity from their workers. But they forget to take into account their working environment or personal preferences. These crucial factors can affect the overall company culture and morale. Believe it or not, well-structured office space and strong employee engagement actually have a huge impact on employee productivity, morale, creativity, and collaboration. All of these factors play crucial roles in not only increasing your company’s bottom line but also creating a cohesive, positive, and fully functional workspace that can foster strong working relationships and unparalleled innovations.

Given the fact that most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work, no one wants to dread having to go to work every day or feeling undervalued and miserable all the time. According to recent research, far too many people have reported that they despise having to come to work every day for a variety of reasons and very few employees actually feel satisfied in their roles. This lack of passion can be very demoralizing and has a detrimental domino effect throughout your company. As productivity plummets, so will your company’s revenue and more importantly, the happiness and well-being of your employees. A well-designed office space that promotes healthy and sustainable working habits, while also encouraging employee engagement interaction on a regular basis, can improve your employees’ day-to-day dispositions. Here’s how this works:

Better Engagement and Communication Equals Greater Productivity

Positive reinforcement and communication is the key to vastly improving morale amongst your employees. Shared workspaces provide the opportunity to engage and collaborate. Teams working on different projects can gather together and give one another constructive feedback. This will inevitably make for a more enjoyable (and profitable) working experience for everyone involved while also greatly reducing stress levels and promoting effective problem-solving skills.

Employees Establish Emotional Commitment to Your Organization

When employees make an emotional investment in the organization or company they work for, they feel a personal attachment, accountability, and motivation to produce the absolute highest quality of work possible. This, in turn, cultivates a personal sense of accomplishment and pride in everything they do. Encouraging this type of engagement can push your employees to continue to work harder and excel in their given fields.

Improved Employee Experiences Means Lower Turnover Rates

High turnover rates can swiftly deplete your company’s finances. Think of the cost that’s involved in having to replace valuable employees who’ve proven their worth, not to mention the immense risk you’re taking in hiring someone new who hasn’t personally proven their skill level to you. If you have an excellent employee already on staff who’s been with your company for many years and produced extremely good work for you, then you must do everything in your power to retain them because chances are, if they feel undervalued, overworked, and are underpaid, they’re more likely to find another job very soon. If your decision is to invest in an employee-friendly office environment, the following may help.

7 Factors to Look for When Choosing Office Furniture

Depending on your situation, there are a number of different factors to keep in mind when choosing your office furniture:

1. Aesthetics – The look of your workplace can play a very important role in the success of your company. Studies have shown that an aesthetically pleasing office can help with attracting and retaining top talent. In fact, one study found that appealing workplace facilities can double the likelihood of a potential employee choosing to work for your organization while extending their tenure with the company.
2. Ergonomics – The science of designing a workplace with the abilities and needs of your employees in mind, also known as ergonomics, should be factored into every piece of office furniture you purchase. From footrests to adjustable monitor arms, to chairs that properly support the lower backs of your employees, ergonomics can have a major impact on the productivity, health, and happiness of your team members. Choosing office furniture built with ergonomics in mind is essential for any efficient workplace.
3. Adjustability and Flexibility – Employees come in all different shapes and sizes, which is why the office furniture you choose needs to have the flexibility required to meet their individual needs. Many desks and table solutions are height adjustable to ensure employees can be productive while maintaining proper posture. Likewise, the office chairs you choose should include features, such as adjustable arms, head, and backrests. Investing in furniture that can be adjusted to the specifications of your employees can help keep everyone in the office comfortable and focused on their work.
4. Warranty – Office furniture is an important investment, and you want to be sure that the pieces you choose are backed by dependable warranties. This will ensure that if you experience an issue with your office furniture, you’ll be able to have it dealt with quickly and affordably.
5. Impact on Employee Wellness – The right office furniture can greatly impact the lives of your employees. In fact, several studies have found that choosing office furniture that is both comfortable and ergonomically considered can have a major impact on employee happiness, as well as their productivity.
6. Multifunctionality – To maximize your budget, pieces of furniture can be purchased with multiple functions in mind. For example, lounge or storage furniture can also be used for collaborative or meeting spaces. Also, many desks are designed primarily to function as single employee workstations but can easily be transformed into collaborative hubs. Similarly, tables can be designed to move around the office as they’re needed, making them perfect for in-house presentations, training programs, strategy sessions in the board room, and much more.
7. Brand Reputation – When choosing office furniture, it’s important to work with a brand (Dealer and Manufacturer) that has earned a reputation as a leader. The reason is simple: choosing the best will help bring the best out in all your employees. Always choose products from office furniture brands, who are all known for using quality building materials and are committed to delivering the best furniture in an environmentally responsible way. Equally important is vetting the company for its professional installers and professional workmanship along with where their furniture is manufactured and do they use sustainable practices.

The Office Furniture Checklist

When you’re preparing to choose your office furniture, keep this checklist of considerations close at hand.

• Is it aesthetically pleasing?
• Do I have a committee to agree on design ideas?
• Is the furniture we are considering ergonomically designed?
• Is the furniture adjustable?
• Is the furniture covered by a thorough warranty?
• Is the furniture designed with employee wellness in mind?
• Is it multifunctional?
• Is it built by a reputable brand?
• Is it within my budget?
• Have I considered a good, better, best evaluation process?

The more boxes you’ve checked off, the more likely it is that you’ve found the perfect piece of furniture.

We’ll discuss more details and specifics regarding how best to invest in your employees with functional furniture in future posts. If you have questions about selecting furniture and creating functional workspaces, simply give us a call or reach out via our contact form. Our consultations are free!