An average Australian spends almost 33 hours per week in the workplace, with 6.3 hours per day spent sitting down. When people spend that much time at their desk every day, it stands to reason that office designs will greatly affect employee productivity. Companies are now working to make their offices employee-friendly by filling them with different workplace decors and designs, ranging from beanbag chairs to standing desks, to promote easiness and increased performance. Getting the correct mix of commercial furniture in Melbourne is an investment in its own right.
Here are some ways productivity and ergonomics can be improved with the right furniture:
Desks and Chairs Should Provide Comfort
The global office furniture market is growing, and it is expected to hit $84 billion by 2021. While design trends come and go, what is really important is ensuring that the basics of comfort are met. Since employees spend a good number of their working hours at their desks, these should be able to provide them with the maximum comfort needed.
Desks should allow proper posture, with arms and hands parallel to the floor. Employees should be able to comfortably cross their legs under the tables. Ergonomic chairs should be top-quality and have firm back support, good cushion, and adjustable features. They should be durable to eliminate any distractions such as back and neck pain.
Furniture Should Facilitate Movement
Ease of movement translates to efficiency and safety. Like the cockpits on aircraft, furniture should be properly placed and arranged to facilitate movement, and extraneous fixtures should be removed. Quality furniture should guarantee easy and accessibility of storage as well. In most typical offices, there are a number of important papers, files, and other workplace peripherals that need to be stored. Poor storage leads to damaged, lost, or stolen items, which subsequently make employees feel less organized and more stressed with wasted time spent trying to sort and trace these files.
Greenery Should Be Included
A number of studies show that by simply having some plants in the workplace can result in increased cognitive attention and productivity by 15%. In fact, one study by the New University of Technology in Sydney shows that the introduction of plants resulted in a 44% decrease in anger and hostility, a 37% reduction in reported tension and anxiety, and a 58% drop in depression. A lot of offices are now getting the lead and are adding plants to their office environments.
Additionally, plants are natural air filters. They can be very helpful in keeping the air clean by removing toxins such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene. Plants that thrive best in office environments are the low-maintenance indoor plants such as peace lilies and snake plants. They require low light and water levels to survive.
Natural Light Should Fill the Office
According to a survey conducted by the American Society of Interior Design, 68% of workers complain about the lighting in their workplace. This study suggests that the quality of lighting in the office is important. It has the ability to significantly affect the work rate and focus of employees.
Generally, there are two modes of artificial lighting – the dim and the high-intensity or harsh lighting – and both are considered as poor lighting. Whether it’s harsh or inadequate dim lighting, these artificial lights can cause unnecessary eye strain, migraine, and even drowsiness. This in turn, affects the efficiency of the employees as well as their overall productivity.
On the other hand, natural lighting tends to improve employee morale, increase focus on work, and reduce levels of anxiety. This also means that there are fewer illnesses relating to headaches and eye strain.
When designating where to place office furniture, it is advisable to arrange it in a way that the employees face opposite the artificial lighting. Setting up the office to make use of as much as natural lighting as possible is crucial. Since people spend hours in the office, even the smallest features and designs of the workplace can greatly affect their health and efficiency. Today, more and more people are opting to work for offices that have a more productive furniture setup.
