The impact of ergonomics on productivity: Designing an office for employee wellbeing

For an HR professional, the wellbeing of employees is one of the top priorities. Healthy and content employees are more productive and creative and contribute to the overall performance of the company. That’s why it’s your job as an HR professional to take care of their physical and mental health. How can you do so?

One of the main factors that affects productivity and performance is the space that surrounds us. Even though we sometimes can’t change and adjust the physical space, we can make it as comfortable as possible by introducing ergonomics. Therefore, to boost effectiveness, consider redesigning offices for your employees. What are all the things you must take into consideration?

The effect of lighting

Did you know that lighting has a special effect on our physical and mental health? If the employees are depressed, exhausted, and unproductive all the time, lighting might be one of the main reasons. Dark and gloomy places affect our psyche and physique in many unfavourable ways. How can you, as an HR, fix it?

Even though you can’t install new windows or electric outlets, you can ensure each employee has enough light to perform their work. Natural light from ample windows is the best option, but strong and artificial light position correctly can replace it in darker and less approachable spaces.

Being one with nature

The positive effects of nature and its elements on our mental wellbeing have been proven in numerous studies. Indoor plants and greenery are known to refine the space and have a soothing effect on our minds. Therefore, modern offices and experienced human resource professionals highlight the importance of indoor plants and greenery in the offices.

Whether your office designs are minimalistic, traditional, or open space, introducing low-maintenance indoor plants can truly lift up the spirits and increase satisfaction. Allow employees to decorate their spaces with plants to boost productivity and overall aesthetics.

Clear space, clear mind

While many claim they thrive in artistic chaos, cleanness and tidy spaces improve our focus and help us develop undivided attention to our work. On top of that, cluttered offices and desks may create a negative image of the company, reducing the value of the brand. Due to that, HR professionals need to ensure office spaces have enough storage spaces and shelves to keep the clutter away.

Every employee needs to have storage space for the files and papers they need to have in print. By adding cabinets and shelves to the design, you’re ensuring employees won’t clutter their desks and will keep their space tidy. In addition to that, such an approach reduces dust in the workplace, which minimises allergic reactions and other health conditions.

Adding ergonomic elements

Comfortable seating is essential in every office. While HR can’t affect furniture purchasing, the HR team can suggest ergonomic chairs for the offices. It’s the job of an HR to take care of the wellbeing of employees by ensuring they have adequate back support in their offices.

Did you know that posture can also affect productivity? If our backs hurt, chances are we’ll be distracted and achieve lower performance than in usual conditions. That’s why having quality chairs that support our neck and back is essential in every office. Also, keep in mind the keyboard and mouse placement so no additional strain is placed on employees’ shoulders and back.

The back is the foundation of our health

Our spine is the literal backbone of our physical and mental health. Because of that, we need to pay special attention to our back and posture while working from the office. If you truly want to look after your employee’s health, high-quality chairs aren’t enough. What else can you add to the list?

Besides the chairs, desks play a vital role in our backs’ health. Sedentary jobs have tremendous negative consequences on our backs, so being able to work standing up will minimise the pressure we feel on our lower backs. Get each employee a standing desk that will allow movement, protect their backs, and boost productivity.

Mental health nook

Keeping up with the trends is essential in the HR world. The latest trends revolve around mental health and keeping up with employees’ wellbeing. As a human resources professional, you can ensure each employee feels safe, satisfied, and fulfilled with their job. However, you can’t completely affect their daily mood and stressors.

That’s why designing a mental health corner will be of great help to the employees. A mental health nook is the future of wellbeing where employees will have a chance to unwind from stress and regain their peace. It can be a simple room with books, calming music, and mats for meditation. Such places are widely praised in the HR community.

Final thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do as an HR professional to look after the employees’ wellbeing while boosting productivity. These actions and changes will be appreciated by both upper managers and your colleagues as productivity and job satisfaction increase. So, do your best to design an ergonomic office that will improve the overall performance of the company.

Morgan Rose Elliott is a business and lifestyle blogger.