5 Reasons Why It Pays to Invest in Good Workplace Design

The previous generation’s traditional office design scheme and cubicle layout no longer hold up as the future work has become far different than it was decades ago. Companies from many industries have been forced to adapt to the rapid shift to remote working during the advent of the pandemic and persevere through months of uncertainty and various changes.

As many businesses now encourage returning to the office, they are met with the reality that the past couple of years has dramatically shaped the future of work and what their employees expect in their work life.

The most prominent demands voiced by workers worldwide include more flexible working arrangements and the freedom to continue working remotely. As such, it is only expected that workplace design must quickly transform to accommodate the evolving needs and fast-paced changes of the modern workforce. Moreover, this has led to the office being more than just a place to do work. 

The latest workplace design trends look to blend beauty and functionality in new ways. They aim to improve employee productivity and engagement by optimising efficiency, focus, and collaboration. Overall, great office interior design in Singapore influences how employees and clients perceive a business and help transform several key business operations.

In contrast, ineffective workplace design negatively impacts both employee performance/experience and a company’s bottom line. To better understand the link between office design and productivity, consider the key benefits of implementing good workplace design.

1. Improves employee retention and recruitment rates

As of late, the demand for talent has exceeded the available supply. Hence, employers must understand their workforce’s needs, wants, and expectations to properly design spaces that promote better productivity and collaboration support – enticing their employees to come to the office in the post-pandemic era. This matters because most employees who have acclimated to remote and hybrid working now prefer these arrangements for most of their work week or all the time.

Businesses leverage intuitive office design to retain talent and recruit more skilled employees to get ahead of the curve. This is because the office environment impacts an individual’s focus, comfort, mood, productivity, and work effectiveness. Placing them in a great environment also makes them feel more valued.

Furthermore, being comfortable and satisfied with the ergonomics and layout of the office is also one of the key determiners that make employees more likely to stay with an organisation. Therefore, businesses with appealing workplaces and flexible scheduling are at an advantage in attracting and keeping top talent.

2. Appeals to the new generation of workers 

Some millennial and Gen-Z employees prefer remote work most if not all the time, while others crave the collaboration opportunities and interaction time only found in the physical office.

For workers that thrive in these team-based and collaborative environments, having a space where they are still stuck in Zoom calls undoubtedly falls short of meeting their needs. Good office design makes it simpler for companies to integrate the latest technologies to support remote working and hybrid working while also providing an environment conducive to collaboration to cater to those who prefer more in-person interactions. 

Younger professionals thrive in social, collaborative environments and generally have higher productivity in blended and dynamic workspaces that offer a variety of private and open areas. Implementing open breakout/common areas, informal seating groups, dynamic workstation seating, and huddle rooms into these workspaces can do wonders for employee productivity and engagement. 

3. Ensures a future-proof workspace

The immovable traditional office space is falling out of favour among many modern businesses transitioning to the new way of working where their employees are divided into working remotely, on-site, or a hybrid of the two. The widespread adoption of these new working models in this post-pandemic period affects everyone’s work styles, and those that choose to return to the office must be met with an improved experience.

Flexible and collaborative workplace design facilitates collaboration and communication, reducing the odds that employees get to the office only to spend the workday on Zoom calls with barely any face-to-face interaction with their peers.

Doing so typically entails an adaptable and modular workspace that can be easily rearranged to align with project needs and employee preferences. This type of workplace design reduces costs and maximises real estate footprint by allowing for quick changes in response to current and future requirements. 

4. Encourages cross-team collaboration 

Facilitating cross-team collaboration is one of the perks of good workplace design. Something as simple as placing teams that need to collaborate more often in the same area or same floor can make a huge difference. Employers can even go further by providing lounge-style or common spaces that promote impromptu interactions that may lead to relaxed collaboration among workers from various teams or departments. This contrasts traditional office setups that unintentionally funnel groups and workers into physical silos, making inter-departmental collaboration difficult. 

5. Enhances employee well-being

According to studies, sitting can be just as dangerous as smoking, especially if done for hours on end, as it can have a negative impact on our health. Good office design includes sit-stand office workstations in Singapore as well as staircases, restrooms, and lounges that are a distance away from work areas to encourage increased movement throughout the workday.

Well-designed workspaces also subtly incorporate outside elements (such as fresh air, natural sunlight, and plants) to create a biophilic workplace environment that promotes employee health and productivity. In addition, they also work wonders in enhancing one’s concentration, promoting mental well-being, easing stress, and helping workers feel more creative.

Conclusion

Given the negative impact caused by the aftermath of the pandemic on the workforce pool, employers are offering more attractive salaries, greater incentives, better flexibility, and other work benefits to retain employees and keep their top talents. 

While these can certainly work, renovating the office with a good design scheme goes further in achieving increased retention and promoting collaboration among the workforce while also enhancing their well-being.

Start reaping these advantages for your business by partnering with Wilsin today! With our years of expertise in turn-key space planning and office fit-out, we have completed numerous office renovation projects and assisted countless businesses in reimagining their workplace as a place their employees can call home.