The workplace is very important in determining how productive employees can be. Imagine a workplace that is stuffy, has bad furniture, poor ventilation, and is terribly organised. Do you think employees will be encouraged to work in such an environment? The most plausible answer is "no."
A workplace that provides aiding tools like height adjustable desks, office chairs, WiFi, and others to help the workers stay focused and productive will most likely enjoy a better experience. Certainly, it is important for workplaces to provide a relatively comfortable work environment for the welfare of their employees.
Why is Comfort Important in the Workplace?
The concept of comfort is relative to every person. One cannot entirely define the lengths to which comfortability can be achieved. However, in the workplace, it is important to provide a minimum level of ease to accomplish tasks and stay productive.
The cogent reason why the workplace should be made comfortable is to ensure that the highest possible level of productivity from your staff is obtained. Also, increased comfortability allows for a positive and enhanced professional relationship among staff. The concept of teamwork is salient to the progress of any organisation, and a comfortable work environment can help boost its prospects.
What Causes Discomfort in the Workplace?
Discomfort in our place of work can hamper how productive and responsive individuals will be to the daily tasks required of them. Let's look at some of the factors that can make a workplace discomforting.
● Work overload: Staff should not be bombarded with multiple tasks at once. Tasks should be broken down into stages and segments for completion.
● Lack of proper ventilation: The office needs to be in a well ventilated area. Fans, air conditioners, and cooling systems should be made available.
● Absence of remote working options: Some jobs, by nature, do not need workers to be on site for the whole 9-5 period.
● Improper communication in the hierarchy of the organisation, whereby task guidelines are not duly directed, can create discomfort.
● Lack of ergonomic tools such as adjustable desks, ergonomic chairs, etc.
● Noise pollution or lack of quiet work environment.
● Lack of needed technology to complete tasks like wifi, office chairs, computing systems, etc.
● Poor electricity supply makes jobs difficult. Electricity in the modern office is essential, and backup options should be provided.
How Can Workplace Comfort Be Improved?
As stated earlier, comfortability has no limits. The requirements for comfortability may vary from organisation to organisation. The nature of the organisation's service or job can determine how much comfortability is required and can be achieved. But we can make a general oversight of some of the things we can do to achieve a comfortable workplace. The application of these suggestions is bound to improve comfortability to a reasonable degree for staff.
● Provide Means of Easy and Effective Communication
Effective communication means that the information sent out has been duly received and accurately acted upon. The organisation should ensure a readily available means of communication for the staff. One of the identified problems among hierarchies of a workplace is poor communication. When instructions, plans, and guidelines are poorly communicated, it can result in the poor execution of important tasks and a series of corrections or queries. Landline phones, mailing systems, public address systems, etc., are some of the methods that can be applied to provide effective communication.
● Ergonomic Infrastructure
Infrastructure that will aid workplace ergonomics should be a major investment to boost workplace productivity. Ergonomic items can include; ergonomic chairs, height adjustable desks, standing desks, office chairs, detachable keyboards, photochromic glasses, etc. This furniture can often be modified to meet the physical conditions of varying people, such as height, and provide comfort as required. These products can help to manage fatigue and increase output from workers.
● Proper Lighting
The workplace should have good lighting options. This might include ensuring a stable power source. On a general level, the workplace should be situated where there is adequate sunlight for working. Electrical lighting that can also ease workplace tension can also be invested in, such as coloured bulbs and fluorescents. This is especially for jobs that require staff to work long into the night. Nonetheless, placing the workplace environment close to natural light is extremely important. A dull working place with just bulbs can poorly impact a worker's condition.
● Less Noise
A noisy environment is a bad thing for productivity. Whether in school, work, or even places of worship, a noisy environment can have a negative impact on the flow of things. It should be ensured that the employees' workspace is as noiseless as possible. With less noise, the focus of employees won't be easily affected. It allows the employees to pay attention to tasks and avoid constant distractions. Noise-proof windows and headsets are some of the equipment that can be invested in to reduce workplace noise asides from situating the workplace in a serene environment.
● Adequate Technology
One of the salient concepts of ergonomics is using efficient technology to carry out tasks. Members of staff should be provided with the technical support needed to make their workflow smoother. This could be tools of effective communication, internet connection like wifi, adequate means of electronic storage such as iCloud, etc. The organisation should have these tools at hand for staff to use.
Technology can also include ergonomic tools for comfort like office desks, adjustable desks, and ergonomic chairs.
In Conclusion
This article gives an insightful analysis of comfort and its relationship with workplace productivity. While there may be no limits to the demands of comfort, we can improve on certain areas that are paramount to the conditions of staff. Furniture, technology, and communication are some of the major areas which can be improved for better employee productivity.
FAQs
What are examples of ergonomic furniture?
Ergonomic furniture is of many types. Examples include standing desks, executive chairs, adjustable workspaces, height adjustable desks, etc.
Is Ergonomic Furniture Expensive?
The price of ergonomic equipment is relative. Here, you can find some of the best prices for the quality of ergonomic equipment you may need.
