Ways to Make Your Office A More Welcoming Place To Work

Keeping up the energy and productivity of your team at work can be challenging. It’s easy for employees to get distracted when they have so many options for their free time just a few floors above them. Working from home, telecommuting, is becoming more and more popular as technology enables people to do so in an effective manner. But this doesn’t mean that it’s not disruptive to the typical office routine. Even with remote working on the rise, most companies still require their employees to report back to their headquarters daily. How we work has changed, but the need for it remains the same: People need places where they can be most productive and feel like they belong there – even if they are not physically there all day long.

Ensure your office is a comfortable workspace

First and foremost, your employees must be physically comfortable at work. This means having the right temperature, plenty of natural light, and ergonomic furniture. It also means avoiding any obvious health hazards, like poor air quality. Poor air quality can make you sick, as well as make you less productive. Next, ensure good indoor air quality by having proper ventilation and filters that keep harmful particles out of the air. If you have a lot of computer equipment or other machinery that produces fumes or odors, you may need to have separate ventilation for those areas. Finally, ensure your office is accessible for all people, including those with disabilities. You can even promote this by displaying your company’s accessibility efforts.

Create a Communal Atmosphere

Some employees may prefer to keep to themselves, but others may appreciate a little socialization at the office. This can help boost productivity because interacting with others can lead to inspiration and new ideas. It can also help you foster a sense of community among your employees. This can help with retention and employee happiness, two critical factors in keeping a productive team. You may consider hosting events that bring people together, such as happy hours or breakfasts. You may even want to consider offering benefits encouraging employees to spend more time with each other, such as co-working or collaborative spaces. This can help foster collaboration and help your employees get to know each other better.

Be Mindful of Noise Levels

Noise can be a significant distraction in a shared office setting. It’s hard to focus on a task or have a productive meeting if your co-workers chat on a nearby couch or pop bubble wrap. Your ability to control the noise level in your office may be limited, but you can encourage your staff to be mindful of their noise level. You can also look into noise reduction and control options. You may also want to offer noise cancellation headphones to your remote employees. This can help them focus and avoid distractions.

Have great collaboration and communication tools

Communication is vital in any office setting. It can help employees feel more connected and better understand each other. Communication is also crucial when working remotely, whether it is with co-workers or clients. We’ve already covered teleconferencing, but there are other tools that you can use to foster better ways to improve team communication. For example, video and screen-sharing software can be helpful for virtual meetings. In addition, collaboration tools can help you organize your data and work more efficiently with your employees. This can help keep everyone on the same page, no matter where they are located.

Establish Clear Communication Protocols

Managing expectations is vital for any successful business. This applies to communication, too. You may have strict guidelines for communication, such as having a specific person communicate with each department. You can also have standards for communication types, such as the times of day that are best for different types of communication. This can help prevent miscommunications, which can waste a lot of time. It can also help you identify areas where improvement is needed.

Build a culture of trust and inclusion

Trust is a two-way street. You have to trust your employees to do their jobs well and to handle themselves responsibly outside of work. This includes charging them to make the right decisions when working remotely. You may want stricter guidelines for those who work from home, such as mandating that they work at certain times of the day. This can help you trust them more since you know when they are working.

Allow for remote working setups

If you allow your employees to work from home, you may consider having them join the office for specific events. This can help foster a sense of community, as well as give employees another opportunity to work face-to-face with their colleagues. Plus, you may want your employees to join their co-workers for specific meetings where collaboration is essential. Again, this can help you build trust in your employees and show that you are also willing to trust them.

Provide flexible work hours

Some employees may want to start their work day earlier or leave work later than others. You can accommodate this by having flexible work hours. This can help employees better manage their lives outside of work. You may even want to consider allowing employees to work different amounts of days each week. Again, this can help employees better manage their schedules, such as if they have children or other obligations.

Hold regular company events

Company events can be a great way to bring employees together and foster communal feelings. They can also be a great way to celebrate milestones and get-togethers for special occasions. This can help your employees feel more connected and like they are part of a team.

Get Rid of Temptation

Your office may be a desirable place to work, but that doesn’t mean it is immune to distractions. You can reduce the amount of temptation in your office by reducing the number of attractions around you. For example, You may want to limit access to social media, video games, and other websites. These a couple of ways to make your office a more welcoming workplace are sure to help boost productivity and keep your team happy. Start implementing these strategies today so you can enjoy the benefits in no time.