FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
We spend so much time and effort ensuring our homes are comfortable, why not prioritise workplace comfort? Stacey Charlesworth, Design Director at commercial interior design, build and delivery business, ADT Workplace, suggests six key office design considerations
Providing a comfortable office environment can not only help to improve the happiness and wellbeing of employees, but also have a significant impact on the overall success of a business, through increased performance and productivity and reduced absenteeism. Despite the clear benefits of providing a comfortable environment, in recent research we carried out among UK office-based workers, only 6.4 per cent of workers rated their workplace as excellent when it came to comfort.
The research, which explored what people really want from their workplaces post-pandemic, also placed comfort at the top of the list of factors that will make people more likely to work from the office (as opposed to at home). A third (33 per cent) of people we spoke with said they would work from the office more regularly if it was more comfortable, closely followed by a wider choice of workplace settings (32.2 per cent) and if there was a positive company culture (29.2 per cent).
Facilities managers have a central role to play in ensuring the comfort of the workplace, but with so many influencing factors, and a long list of other responsibilities, where do you start? What do you need to consider when it comes to creating a comfortable environment for your teams?
WORKPLACE SETTINGS
Agile workplace environments are designed with complete flexibility in mind, giving employees the freedom to work in a setting they choose to suit their needs at any given time. This could be individual working at a traditional desk, at a stand-up desk, in an open booth, in a sound proofed quiet pod or with their team in huddle areas, at flexible working tables, in private meeting rooms, or in open plan collaboration and creative zones. Having become the norm over recent years, agile environments play a key role in supporting and improving the comfort of people at work, and should be a must-have for any modern business looking to provide the best environment for their people.
The selection of ergonomic furniture plays a key role in delivering comfort, no matter what the setting. For example, an office chair featuring an adjustable seat, arms and back rests, and a swivel will reduce discomfort, improve posture and maximise efficiency. Equally, choose desks which can be modified to accommodate both sitting and standing positions, as well as adjustable computer monitors, to allow people to alter their position throughout the day.
TEMPERATURE
Thermal comfort is ranked as one of the highest contributing factors influencing overall satisfaction in buildings, and office workers who are satisfied with their thermal environment have been proven to be more productive. That said, thermal comfort in the workplace can be challenging to navigate due to the combination of environmental factors, such as air temperature and humidity, and personal factors, like clothing and preference.
Providing choice through a zoned and controllable heating and cooling system, will support a healthy environment and improve comfort levels. Installing thermostats and sensors to monitor and regulate a consistent temperature will also help create a comfortable space, as well as comply with occupational health and safety regulations.
