If your company is struggling to meet profit targets, you might want to survey your office. Do your employees look happy doing their job or are they just waiting for the clock to strike five? This article from Bloomberg Business Week argues that happiness has a direct effect on employee productivity—and your bottom line:
Our research over the past decade has focused on creativity, productivity, and the psychology of everyday work life. Whether we looked at entrepreneurial startups or large, established enterprises, the same holds true: People are more productive and creative when they have more positive emotions. In fact, we found that, if happier on a given day, people were not only more likely to come up with a new idea or solve a complex problem that same day but also to do so the next day.
Gallup quantified the link between employee feelings and corporate outcomes, reporting that lost productivity due to employee disengagement costs more than $300 billion in the U.S. annually. A separate Gallup study by researcher James Harter and his colleagues found that business unit sales and profits at one point in time are predicted by employees’ feelings about the organization at earlier points in time.
One of the best ways to increase employee happiness is by improving office space, especially as 72-hour work weeks have become the norm and as more and more workers render mandatory overtime. Below are a few tips that will make for a happier and more productive Reston office space:
Choose Your Location Wisely
If you’re expanding a business or starting a new one, the location of your office is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Your building should be in a safe neighborhood and should be easily accessible to your employees via subway or bus. Companies like Metro Office provide ideal office space in Reston, VA, one of the country’s booming technology hubs.
Give Your Employees Space
A cramped office can also cramp your employees’ productivity. Free up floor space by choosing corner units and tall cabinets for storage. To save even more space, use bench desks instead of individual tables to accommodate more employees while still giving them ample personal space.
Let there be Color!
Stimulating productivity can be as simple as repainting your office walls. Green is a restful color that can help give your employees a much-needed breather; on the other hand, red can increase respiration and can enhance energy along with productivity.
(Article Excerpt and Image from Employee Happiness Matters More Than You Think, Bloomberg Businessweek)
