The way we work has changed drastically in the past three years. In the wake of Covid-19, the professional world has had a reckoning with the effects of employee mental and physical health on their performance and output.

People are wary of coming back into the office, and this is not only from a health and safety perspective. We have grown used to the comfort of working from home. The environment is familiar and less rigid, employees feel more autonomous as they can move freely and change locations as they please and feel less “trapped.” While this has increased productivity, collaboration and engagement–which are vital for new and innovative ideas to manifest- have suffered. The challenge now is to figure out how to inspire employees to come back into the office and how to help ease the transition.

Why an Employee-First Model is Important

 

People are the backbone of a company. It is in your best interest to keep your workers happy and comfortable. This not only improves their efficiency and performance levels, but also encourages ingenuity. Moreover, it helps with talent retention and cuts recruitment and training costs.

Most of our time is spent at the office, so it is important to work in an inviting environment. According to a 2014 study in the Asian Journal of Business Strategy, a well-designed space helps inspire productivity and creativity in people. Thus, a better work environment translates to better results.

The Psychology of Office Design

 

Your environment effects your mood, and in turn, the kind of work that you produce. For example, an open and airy office would inspire cooperation and inventiveness whereas a cozier, quieter office would be more conducive to focused work. So, with this in mind, where is the best place to begin?

Let’s start with the basics: lots of natural light, soothing color palettes, good ventilation, and ergonomic furniture are a good start to your checklist. These features have a proven record of being conducive to excellence and optimal performance.

In addition to this, it is immensely important to take into consideration your employees’ opinions, since they are the ones who will be using the space. They build the company culture, and so knowing their working styles, their personalities, and their preferences are key in creating an inclusive office and improving efficiency. Keeping in mind their health and wellness is no longer an option, it is imperative.

Once you have an idea of the kind of space you want, it is time to put a plan in motion. Some of the questions you should be asking yourself are about the budget, the scope of the project, whether you want to move or renovate, whether you want an entire overhaul, or whether you can accommodate the needs of everyone with minor changes. With Covid-19, hybrid workspaces have become the norm and are here to stay, as we have adapted out work styles and developed new habits. We at Aura understand that this can be overwhelming and have developed a software to simplify the process.

How to Make Sustainable Changes to Your Office

 

This is where Pivvot comes into play. Pivvot is a software that can help you produce a workplace strategy which considers how much space you will need for an office, what your employees need for their best performance, and how to accommodate them. It will also consider how much growth your company will see in terms of workforce, so you will not have to change things a few years down the line. This will help plan a budget and save money both in the present and the future.

Health and safety-wise, people are being encouraged to work from home and offices do not see as much traffic as they used to. With only a certain number of people coming in to work physically on a given day, offices do not need as much square footage as they used to.

Pivvot aims to help you seamlessly adapt to the “new normal” in the workplace and help you save money while you are at it. It is data-driven and people-centered, which means you can perfect your efficiency and save money, while keeping your employees happy and engaged.

This makes planning everything much less tedious. This also helps in creating an inclusive workspace for employees, which, as we mentioned before is vital for both excellence and morale. We recommend modular furniture that can be moved around, and a dynamic, fluid lay-out that accommodates both collaboration and privacy.

At Aura, we firmly believe that a nurturing environment that considers people’s needs, and opinions makes them excited to come to work. You can learn more about this by consulting our workplace strategists, and can also read more about our workplace strategy process. 

 

 

 

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