Bosses and supervisors often struggle to find innovative ways to improve employee morale. This is especially relevant in smaller office spaces, as tensions can easily run high and escalate in such close quarters.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to keep employees happy, healthy, and productive in a small office space. Read below to learn more!
Option for Privacy
Everybody has different workplace preferences, but a certain degree of privacy is always valued by employees.
Even if the specific work environment is more collaborative, privacy is still needed while accomplishing certain individual tasks such as reading and making phone calls.
This makes employees feel comfortable, which, in turn, makes them happier and more productive.
While privacy may be hard to come by in smaller office spaces, there are solutions. Moveable desk dividers and desktop panels are two ways to provide employees with the occasional moment of privacy.
Keep a Clean and Tidy Office
Keeping a clean office will help keep employees happy and healthy at work. A clean working area is very advantageous for workers, as it helps reduce stress and decreases the chance of illness spreading throughout the office. It also leads to a more organized office, which makes it easier to find miscellaneous items such as office supplies and complete important tasks at hand.
By doing little things to keep the office neat and tidy, thorough cleaning will not be required nearly as much. Putting dishes away, clearing off desk areas, and occasional sweeping or vacuuming are all easy ways to keep your office clean.
You should also use non-toxic cleaning products. Some common cleaning products contain harmful toxins, allergens, and chemicals. The effects of these products are magnified in smaller offices, as they linger in the air and embed themselves in the carpet fibers.
Fortunately, there are many non-toxic cleaning products available that will do as good or better of a job!
You can also pay for a professional cleaning service if one is not provided by your office building already. They will likely do a more thorough job cleaning, and employees will definitely be more focused and happier in a clean office.
Complimentary Food and Drinks
Employees covet complimentary food and drinks more than most other benefits. In fact, it is one of the most important factors prospective employees weigh when considering job offers.
Providing employees with food and drinks has many different benefits. It saves them money and helps boost productivity by eliminating midday lulls and crashes.
Providing snack and beverage options will also keep employees feeling energized and healthier. Healthy beverages for employees include coffee, tea, water, juices, and kombucha.
Healthy snack options include trail mix, fruit, vegetables, and more. These snacks can all be purchased in stores, and it may be best to order in bulk to save time and money.
Temperature Control
Regulating the temperature is crucial to the happiness and health for employees in small offices. No employee can focus or function properly if they are too hot or cold.
A ductless mini split is one of the best ways to heat and cool a small office. These innovative and efficient air conditioners provide unmatched temperature control and comfort for a reasonable price!
Ductless mini splits consist of an outdoor condenser or compressor connected to one or more indoor air handling units by a series of copper wires and pipes.
They are available in single and multi-zone systems, and the single unit is perfect for a smaller office space. They offer many benefits, such as increased efficiency that directly contributes to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
Some HVAC systems are intrusive and detract from the room’s aesthetic, but mini splits are hardly noticeable! Slim models and ceiling cassette versions are very inconspicuous and take up little area in a small office space. They are also virtually silent, so they won’t distract any employees!
Mini splits also act as air filters, purifiers, and dehumidifiers. While heating and cooling the room, they remove any harmful allergens, dust, dirt, debris, and other bacteria from the air.
This increases your indoor air quality and reduces the potential for mold and mildew. Harmful airborne materials easily build up in smaller areas with stagnated air flow, but they are eliminated with a ductless mini split. It will keep your employees feeling healthy and happy at work!
Decorations
Creating an aesthetically pleasing environment using decorations and colors leads to happier employees.
Certain tones, colors, and textures have been shown to help stimulate productivity, creativity and help employees feel comfortable. Encourage employees to decorate their own areas with artwork and photographs, as this also increases comfort and makes them happier.
Indoor plants are another excellent office decoration, as they can have a calming effect on employees. Not only do these plants look great, but they help kill harmful airborne bacteria and chemicals.
This improves the indoor air quality, which, in turn, leads to healthier employees. Snake plants, English ivy, and aloe are three of many plants that can thrive in any office.
Lighting
Proper lighting keeps employees happy and healthy. Natural light is the best source for the office, as it provides employees with vitamin D and leads to an overall heightened sense of comfort.
It also reduces stress on the eyes, especially for those who spend long hours looking at screens.
If possible, allow natural light in through a window or ceiling opening. If natural light is inaccessible in your office, fluorescent 6500k light bulbs will suffice. They are designed to recreate the effects of natural light and can be installed in any light fixture.
When considering how to keep employees happy and healthy in a small office, take their advice into consideration.
While these are all excellent guidelines from a general standpoint, employee feedback will help you create the perfect working environment to maximize happiness, health, and productivity!
