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How workplace design can support employee mental health
Author:
14
May 2024
3
min read
Poor mental health influences every aspect of our lives, from our relationships and daily functioning to our performance at work. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem every year, and, according to Mind, mental health problems are the leading cause of sickness absence among workers.
Since we spend around 90% of our lives indoors, it’s important to consider how our work environments impact our mental wellbeing. In this article, we’ll explore how effective office design can contribute to a happier and more productive workforce.
The cost of poor mental health
Organisations are only as strong as their people, but mental health issues are preventing staff from performing at their best – reducing their capacity to concentrate, feel motivated or communicate effectively.
- In 2021, 81% of Gen Zers and 68% of millennials reported leaving companies for mental health reasons.
- Poor mental health costs UK employers up to £56 billion a year.
- More than a quarter of UK employees (27%) say that work negatively impacts on their mental health.
To nurture a culture of health, productivity and success, leaders have to prioritise wellbeing at work. Let’s dive into three design strategies that can positively influence employees’ feelings and behaviours...
1. Bringing the outside in
Countless studies show that spending time in nature is good for our health and wellbeing. Reconnecting people with nature in the built environment is known as biophilic design.
Not only does it reduce anxiety and stress, but a research report by Human Spaces shows that biophilic design can improve productivity by 6% and creativity by up to 15%.Biophilic design elements include planting, maximising natural light, incorporating shapes inspired by nature and using natural materials such as wood and stone.
2. Encouraging movement and collaboration
We’re all aware that staying active is good for our physical and mental well-being. It reduces stress, improves sleep, and boosts mood. However, the traditional office set-up, with fixed desks and limited settings, often inhibits staff from moving around their workplace
Oliver Wyman’s London team was originally dispersed across two floors. To facilitate transitions between floors and encourage more collaboration and movement, we installed a central staircase. We also developed activity-specific zones for focused work, collaboration, relaxation, socialising and meetings. Rather than segregating teams by job function and confining them to certain areas of the building, staff now have the freedom to move through the space, work from zones best suited to their tasks, and interact with colleagues from different departments.
3. Putting people at the heart of design
The way you feel and behave in the workplace is based on multiple senses in play at once. Workplace design that draws the five human senses – sight, touch, sound, smell and taste – can contribute to a healthier, happier and more productive workplace. Here are some key elements to consider when designing for the five senses:
Sight
Consider how the aesthetics – the colour scheme, lighting, and design elements – might influence how your employees feel. Natural daylight, biophilic design and views of the outside world can all enhance employee well-being.
Sound
As offices become more collaborative and noisy, we need to think about how sound pollution impacts on workplace well-being and productivity. Your office design should include quiet spaces where employees can relax and concentrate.
Smell
Smell is the closest sense linked to memory and is a crucial part of workplace design. It can help create a lasting impression, increase concentration and improve overall mood. Ventilation and planting will purify the area, and specific fragrances can contribute to a unified brand experience.
Taste
Providing healthy snacks and drinks creates a sense of community within the office while promoting employee wellbeing.
Touch
Different textures and surfaces influence the way we feel and behave. Natural materials such as wood and textiles are often associated with a ‘warm, cosy feeling’, whereas hard seating can encourage quick decisions.
Diverse teams = diverse needs
Employees face different stressors, so when designing offices, it’s important to consider their diverse needs. Instigating changes such as hybrid working arrangements might benefit some employees, but could make others feel isolated, overwhelmed, or lacking social support.
Adopting a collaborative approach to workplace design and involving employees throughout the process can help identify their preferences and highlight any concerns before they become major issues.
Good for people, good for business
Supporting well-being is good for people and good for business. Research indicates that organisations with higher levels of employee engagement benefit from better productivity, profitability and stronger staff commitment.
Some organisations find value in using roadmaps such as the WELL Building Standard. This standard offers evidence-backed guidance for developing safer and healthier environments that promote wellbeing.
Let's chat about workplace design and mental health
If you want to know more about the WELL Building Standard or how workplace design can better support your employees’ mental health, get in touch with our team.
Download for free now
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
How workplace design can support employee mental health
Author:
14
May 2024
3
min read
Poor mental health influences every aspect of our lives, from our relationships and daily functioning to our performance at work. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem every year, and, according to Mind, mental health problems are the leading cause of sickness absence among workers.
Since we spend around 90% of our lives indoors, it’s important to consider how our work environments impact our mental wellbeing. In this article, we’ll explore how effective office design can contribute to a happier and more productive workforce.
The cost of poor mental health
Organisations are only as strong as their people, but mental health issues are preventing staff from performing at their best – reducing their capacity to concentrate, feel motivated or communicate effectively.
- In 2021, 81% of Gen Zers and 68% of millennials reported leaving companies for mental health reasons.
- Poor mental health costs UK employers up to £56 billion a year.
- More than a quarter of UK employees (27%) say that work negatively impacts on their mental health.
To nurture a culture of health, productivity and success, leaders have to prioritise wellbeing at work. Let’s dive into three design strategies that can positively influence employees’ feelings and behaviours...
1. Bringing the outside in
Countless studies show that spending time in nature is good for our health and wellbeing. Reconnecting people with nature in the built environment is known as biophilic design.
Not only does it reduce anxiety and stress, but a research report by Human Spaces shows that biophilic design can improve productivity by 6% and creativity by up to 15%.Biophilic design elements include planting, maximising natural light, incorporating shapes inspired by nature and using natural materials such as wood and stone.
2. Encouraging movement and collaboration
We’re all aware that staying active is good for our physical and mental well-being. It reduces stress, improves sleep, and boosts mood. However, the traditional office set-up, with fixed desks and limited settings, often inhibits staff from moving around their workplace
Oliver Wyman’s London team was originally dispersed across two floors. To facilitate transitions between floors and encourage more collaboration and movement, we installed a central staircase. We also developed activity-specific zones for focused work, collaboration, relaxation, socialising and meetings. Rather than segregating teams by job function and confining them to certain areas of the building, staff now have the freedom to move through the space, work from zones best suited to their tasks, and interact with colleagues from different departments.
3. Putting people at the heart of design
The way you feel and behave in the workplace is based on multiple senses in play at once. Workplace design that draws the five human senses – sight, touch, sound, smell and taste – can contribute to a healthier, happier and more productive workplace. Here are some key elements to consider when designing for the five senses:
Sight
Consider how the aesthetics – the colour scheme, lighting, and design elements – might influence how your employees feel. Natural daylight, biophilic design and views of the outside world can all enhance employee well-being.
Sound
As offices become more collaborative and noisy, we need to think about how sound pollution impacts on workplace well-being and productivity. Your office design should include quiet spaces where employees can relax and concentrate.
Smell
Smell is the closest sense linked to memory and is a crucial part of workplace design. It can help create a lasting impression, increase concentration and improve overall mood. Ventilation and planting will purify the area, and specific fragrances can contribute to a unified brand experience.
Taste
Providing healthy snacks and drinks creates a sense of community within the office while promoting employee wellbeing.
Touch
Different textures and surfaces influence the way we feel and behave. Natural materials such as wood and textiles are often associated with a ‘warm, cosy feeling’, whereas hard seating can encourage quick decisions.
Diverse teams = diverse needs
Employees face different stressors, so when designing offices, it’s important to consider their diverse needs. Instigating changes such as hybrid working arrangements might benefit some employees, but could make others feel isolated, overwhelmed, or lacking social support.
Adopting a collaborative approach to workplace design and involving employees throughout the process can help identify their preferences and highlight any concerns before they become major issues.
Good for people, good for business
Supporting well-being is good for people and good for business. Research indicates that organisations with higher levels of employee engagement benefit from better productivity, profitability and stronger staff commitment.
Some organisations find value in using roadmaps such as the WELL Building Standard. This standard offers evidence-backed guidance for developing safer and healthier environments that promote wellbeing.
Let's chat about workplace design and mental health
If you want to know more about the WELL Building Standard or how workplace design can better support your employees’ mental health, get in touch with our team.
Poor mental health influences every aspect of our lives, from our relationships and daily functioning to our performance at work. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem every year, and, according to Mind, mental health problems are the leading cause of sickness absence among workers.
Since we spend around 90% of our lives indoors, it’s important to consider how our work environments impact our mental wellbeing. In this article, we’ll explore how effective office design can contribute to a happier and more productive workforce.
The cost of poor mental health
Organisations are only as strong as their people, but mental health issues are preventing staff from performing at their best – reducing their capacity to concentrate, feel motivated or communicate effectively.
- In 2021, 81% of Gen Zers and 68% of millennials reported leaving companies for mental health reasons.
- Poor mental health costs UK employers up to £56 billion a year.
- More than a quarter of UK employees (27%) say that work negatively impacts on their mental health.
To nurture a culture of health, productivity and success, leaders have to prioritise wellbeing at work. Let’s dive into three design strategies that can positively influence employees’ feelings and behaviours...
1. Bringing the outside in
Countless studies show that spending time in nature is good for our health and wellbeing. Reconnecting people with nature in the built environment is known as biophilic design.
Not only does it reduce anxiety and stress, but a research report by Human Spaces shows that biophilic design can improve productivity by 6% and creativity by up to 15%.Biophilic design elements include planting, maximising natural light, incorporating shapes inspired by nature and using natural materials such as wood and stone.
2. Encouraging movement and collaboration
We’re all aware that staying active is good for our physical and mental well-being. It reduces stress, improves sleep, and boosts mood. However, the traditional office set-up, with fixed desks and limited settings, often inhibits staff from moving around their workplace
Oliver Wyman’s London team was originally dispersed across two floors. To facilitate transitions between floors and encourage more collaboration and movement, we installed a central staircase. We also developed activity-specific zones for focused work, collaboration, relaxation, socialising and meetings. Rather than segregating teams by job function and confining them to certain areas of the building, staff now have the freedom to move through the space, work from zones best suited to their tasks, and interact with colleagues from different departments.
3. Putting people at the heart of design
The way you feel and behave in the workplace is based on multiple senses in play at once. Workplace design that draws the five human senses – sight, touch, sound, smell and taste – can contribute to a healthier, happier and more productive workplace. Here are some key elements to consider when designing for the five senses:
Sight
Consider how the aesthetics – the colour scheme, lighting, and design elements – might influence how your employees feel. Natural daylight, biophilic design and views of the outside world can all enhance employee well-being.
Sound
As offices become more collaborative and noisy, we need to think about how sound pollution impacts on workplace well-being and productivity. Your office design should include quiet spaces where employees can relax and concentrate.
Smell
Smell is the closest sense linked to memory and is a crucial part of workplace design. It can help create a lasting impression, increase concentration and improve overall mood. Ventilation and planting will purify the area, and specific fragrances can contribute to a unified brand experience.
Taste
Providing healthy snacks and drinks creates a sense of community within the office while promoting employee wellbeing.
Touch
Different textures and surfaces influence the way we feel and behave. Natural materials such as wood and textiles are often associated with a ‘warm, cosy feeling’, whereas hard seating can encourage quick decisions.
Diverse teams = diverse needs
Employees face different stressors, so when designing offices, it’s important to consider their diverse needs. Instigating changes such as hybrid working arrangements might benefit some employees, but could make others feel isolated, overwhelmed, or lacking social support.
Adopting a collaborative approach to workplace design and involving employees throughout the process can help identify their preferences and highlight any concerns before they become major issues.
Good for people, good for business
Supporting well-being is good for people and good for business. Research indicates that organisations with higher levels of employee engagement benefit from better productivity, profitability and stronger staff commitment.
Some organisations find value in using roadmaps such as the WELL Building Standard. This standard offers evidence-backed guidance for developing safer and healthier environments that promote wellbeing.
Let's chat about workplace design and mental health
If you want to know more about the WELL Building Standard or how workplace design can better support your employees’ mental health, get in touch with our team.
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