"Office design has a direct correlation with optimal job performance, not to mention a company’s competitive advantage. Businesses that ignore the design and layout of their workplaces are failing to optimise the full value of their human capital” (Beautyman, 2006).
Making considered changes to places of work or study can have an impact on the individuals; improving productivity, performance and ultimately reducing stress. Reducing stress can benefit both the individual and the company itself by improving the job satisfaction and well being of the person.
Biophilia
Biophilia is is the concept that humans connect with other living things, meaning things such as plants, is an emerging theory of workplace design. Research has shown that real, live plants can help lower office stress, improve cognitive function and enhance creativity.
"For example, in 1988, Kaplan and Talbot found that access to nearby nature sites was associated with lower levels of perceived job stress, as well as higher levels of job satisfaction. This was particularly true for employees who had a direct view of natural elements such as trees and flowers (Leather & Di Beals,1998)."
"A view of natural elements such as trees, vegetation, plants, and foliage was found to buffer the negative impact of job stress" (Leather & Di Beals, 1998)
Also noteworthy, indoor plants double as air quality controllers. The WGBC report found numerous studies showing that high levels of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) make employees tired and less able to think clearly.
A 2011 lab test mimicking an office with high levels of VOCs found that increasing ventilation improved workplace performance by eight percent.
A recent Washington State University study demonstrated that plant transpiration in office environment releases moisture, creating a humidity level that matches the recommended human comfort range of 30-60% (Gilhooley, 2002).
Lighting
Both the placement, brightness and type of lighting are all key considerations when designing an office space as they can affect people's moods, productivity and stress levels.
Placement of lights: workers tend to perform best in well-lit areas. Yet it is important to have a balance of direct, task-oriented light, and indirect light. The key is providing light that appears natural and is consistent with the workspace.
A study conducted by the Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment and the British Council for Offices found that even simple things such as good lighting and adequate daylight can reduce absenteeism by 15 per cent and increase productivity by between 2.8 per cent and 20 per cent (Amble, 2005).
A recent study examined the relationship of daylight to students’ performance. The results indicated that in the classrooms with daylighting, the scores for math and reading performance were 28 16% to 26% higher than in classrooms with only electrical lighting (Fisk, 2000).
Ergonomics
Ergonomics play an important role in the comfort of the individual in the work place, uncomfortable furniture or equipment for example can all have an effect on the person's ability to perform well and ultimately on their well being.
By applying ergonomic principles, the employer can reduce medical costs, decrease absenteeism, and positively affect the employees, both physically and psychologically. Ergonomics reduces strains such as physical discomfort, fatigue, and tension. As a result, employees’ stress can be reduced.
Miles (2000) adds that ergonomic designs that include such things as adjustable chairs, wall color, and work area design have shown positive effects on stress reduction.
Noise and Acoustics
Noise can often be a big distraction when trying to work in a given environment, be that university or your workplace and so it's something to considering containing or reducing full stop.
Cooper, Dewe, and O’Driscoll (2001) suggest that poor noise conditions can have a severe impact on a worker’s physical health and psychological well-being. This statement confirms Hower’s (1995) findings that high noise levels can cause irritation, increase stress, and reduce productivity, especially in an open space.
Colour
Colour plays an important role in employees’ emotional and physiological
responses as certain colours can be soothing, invigorating, jarring, or stress-inducing. This is all dependant on how much and of what colours are used on their own or in combination with other colours around the environment.
Red, for
example, has been shown to stimulate a sympathetic response. On the other hand, red has
also been shown to increase stress when compared to blue, which is more relaxing and
tends to reduce stress (Pelegrin-Genel, 1996).
Splashes of red in a conference room might increase the “good stress,” since it
will increase the heart rate and the energy level that is required for a productive
meeting.
Violet is considered to be the most restful color, since it causes a decrease in
blood pressure. However, it is not viewed favorably by most people as a wall
color, so an employer might use it as an accent color to reduce employee stress.
Blue is the best color for break areas since it promotes relaxation, and it is also a
favorite color of most people. A blue environment can also help reduce
headaches and hypertension.
All of these aspects of office design are things for me to take into consideration as one of my ideas is to potentially reimagine the way a workplace environment is, in the hope to reduce stress for the employees. Imagining an environment could be tricky as there are a lot of things to consider but creating something that encompasses the key elements of a more calm, less stressed workplace could be interesting.
Sources:http://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1150&context=theses
https://workdesign.com/2015/05/how-biophilia-reduces-workplace-stress-and-drives-productivity/
http://newyorkblog.jll.com/2014/11/25/how-going-green-can-boost-productivity/#more-627
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