Progressive companies want to create an office that not only makes their employees comfortable but also ensures their emotional and physical well-being. There are multiple ways of doing so, such as having an open floor layout, considering activity-based design, and investing in low partition workstations. One of the most effective ways of customizing your office so that it caters to all your employees and all their needs is to use evidence-based design.
Evidence-based design (EBD) is a methodology that collects data using surveys, studies, and discussions conducted in the office and applies the inputs to the design of the workspace. It looks at a variety of factors, such as where employees spend most of their time, how much freedom they have in moving around the office, if they’re able to collaborate with their peers effortlessly, etc. EBD attempts to fortify the target areas where employee traffic is higher in a cost and space effective manner. As these design decisions are made keeping in mind employee suggestions, they feel more involved in the whole process and create a workspace that caters to their style.
With renewed workforce requirements lowering retention rates after the Covid lockdown, evidence-based designs are the way to go. Here are some ways in which EBD impacts the workspace positively:
Improves employee satisfaction & productivity
Evidence-based office design takes employee input and applies it to the workspaces through data collected from the concerned party themselves. This data is, then, used to make changes to the existing office.
With their needs addressed, employees feel much more satisfied and comfortable. When the office caters to their specific needs, productivity goes up and employee absenteeism goes down. It also leads to greater team morale and a better bond with the organization as the team feels like an instrumental part in creating a carefully designed workspace that helps them WorkWell.
Helps adapt to the future
After two years of working from home, employees’ needs have changed drastically. Some are looking for a more open environment to compensate for the stuffy rooms they had to work out of and some want the same level of comfort they were used to at home. On the other hand, individuals who have been socially isolated would like the opportunity to mingle with their peers in a welcoming environment.
While the earlier workforce was used to cubicles and conventional designs, offices now also need to be able to accommodate future workforces. In a creativity-driven era, their needs are very different from that of the previous generation. Inspirational workspaces, collaborative floor plans, use of art in design, and relaxation zones are great assets if a company would like to hire Gen-Z and retain their talent.
(Birds of a feather flock together, by Jacobus Johannes Sieberhagen at Max Towers)
Boosts brand recognition
Evidence-based design also helps boost brand recognition. Workspaces that take employee feedback and implement changes to the office to cater to their needs can rank high on a potential employee’s list. Evidence-based design displays that the firm takes a smart approach towards employee satisfaction and chooses not to force them to work in a setting they may not be comfortable with. The enhanced image helps companies retain talent, too. Since they are indirectly involved in the design process, employees feel respected at work, making their impression of the company positive and their association with them longer.
Ensures employee wellbeing
Every office needs to ensure the well-being of employees. Design elements like natural light and indoor plants can decrease stress and boost creativity among workers. A study by Science Direct demonstrates a positive association between outdoor nature contact and stress reduction. Biophilia through natural light is also handy as it helps bring down energy costs by using sunlight as much as possible. For instance, Max Square, is designed to receive natural light from 3 sides, ensuring maximum utilization of glare free daylighting.
(Max Square)
The company can also enable the well-being of employees by providing various amenities like gyms, salons and retail shops and different places to relax like green walkways and lounges that enhance employees’ work experience.
In the future of work, employees’ needs are different. The new generation needs a collaborative environment and a versatile design that promotes different workstyles to take their products to the next level. And with Gen Z now in the mix, there is a need to make more data-driven choices regarding workspace design. A mixture of inspiring spaces where employees can work together and brainstorm innovative ideas, as well as a zone where they can work in peace to improve concentration, can boost creativity and productivity.
(The Cube at Max Towers)
At Max Estates, developments are designed to provide you a customizable experience, so you can design your workplace according to your employee needs. With assistance in fit outs and zero capex models, Max Estates enables you to develop workspaces that are expansion friendly too. At the same time, we take care of the conveniences by ensuring access to common amenities like sports facilities, open terraces, meditation rooms, retail outlets, gym, salon etc. With Max Estates, WorkWell is not just a philosophy; it’s a way of life.
(Meditation room at Max Towers)
