Achieving high productivity in the workplace is the goal of any manager. Companies invest a great deal of time and money in equipment, training, and incentives to help their workers reach peak performance. However, one area is often neglected, and that is the workplace environment. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that an improved office indoor environment means building or buying a new one. That is not the case at all. In fact, some very simple changes can yield some significant gains in efficiency–often without employees even noticing the changes.
The topic has been researched by the National Institutes of Health, and the results provide some real-world solutions that you can implement in the workplace right away. Making changes in these four areas can improve your workplace productivity.
Appropriate Temperatures
The NIH has found that temperatures are about more than just comfort. Workplaces that are too hot or too cold are less productive than those with temperatures closer to the ideal range. This suggests that those extra degrees of adjustment on the thermostat don’t save as much money as we might think. The better option is to find out the ideal temperature for your workplace and keep it there. It may also be necessary to keep HVAC fans operating continuously to eliminate hot spots and cool spots. You may also want to add or upgrade window blinds.
Clean Work Areas
First of all, a clean workplace instills pride in workers, but the benefits go beyond that. When an office is kept thoroughly clean, workers don’t feel the need to tidy up for themselves. Instead, they devote that time to more important work. There is also a lower incidence of allergy-related illnesses, reducing sick time consumption and the subsequent loss of productivity. When the best maid service in Austin is keeping your office clean, you’ll see better output from everyone.
Ergonomic Workstations
We’ve learned more and more in recent decades about repetitive motion injury and its impact on the human body. We’re aware that subjecting someone to an improper body position for forty hours a week has a long-term effect on their health, but it is important to realize that it also creates problems in the short term. Uncomfortable work stations can cause slower typing, mouse errors, and a more frequent need to stand up and stretch. Good ergonomics keep workers comfortably and productively on task.
Poor ergonomics in the workplace can cause long-term health issues, and individuals who experience these issues might look for a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that workstations are ergonomically correct so workers can remain comfortable and productive.
Effective Lighting
Eyestrain is a serious impediment to productivity. Every minute that a worker spends attempting to read something in a poorly-lit office is a minute of wasted time. Harsh incandescent lights can also add to strain, slowing reading and spurring workers to slow down or take breaks. Good lighting is key to an efficient workplace.
It isn’t necessary to hound workers to be more productive. Sometimes all it takes is some simple adjustments to their workplace to get them at peak performance. With these steps, you’ll move your workplace toward a more efficient condition.