The Complete Guide to Creating Office Wellbeing in 2022

Wellbeing at work is often ignored in favour of operational issues. But get it right, and there are advantages to be gained for both employees and employers. If we’re happy, motivated and healthy in the workplace, we are usually more productive. We spend fewer days off sick, and we’re able to focus on our duties without being distracted. If you’re a manager or a business owner, it’s in your best interest to make workplace wellbeing a priority — and here are a few tips to get you started.

What Does Office Wellbeing Mean?

Office wellbeing is a collection of issues that come together to determine an employee's general welfare while they’re at work. It involves many aspects, including posture at the desk, stress levels, workload, morale, job satisfaction and feelings of self-worth.

Fostering Connection

The connection between managers, colleagues and subordinates is hugely important to general staff wellbeing. People need to have the opportunity to express their concerns about work-related issues. More importantly, they need to be heard. And for this to happen respectfully and privately, the office environment must be right. Whether that means creating breakout areas filled with casual meeting furniture or private rooms with comfortable chairs, the important thing is to make the environment conducive to constructive communication.

Encouraging Work/Life Balance

Employees can never deliver maximum productivity in the workplace if they’re always forced to put their job before their private life. Every productive office has a clearly defined policy on work/life balance, which includes guidance on issues such as home working, maximum working hours, remote working and flexible hours. Encourage your employees to provide regular feedback on the work/life balance in your business, and continually look for ways to improve.

Tips to Foster Office Wellbeing

A holistic approach to wellbeing at work is usually the best policy. Several factors work together to determine an individual’s wellbeing in the workplace. By addressing them all, you can create an environment that’s conducive to productivity and job satisfaction.

Highlight Achievements with Recognition

When your employees go above and beyond to deliver excellence at work, you should always recognise their input. And the best way to do that is publicly. Sharing the successes and achievements of employees will foster a culture of togetherness, cooperation and mutual respect within your organisation. It will also give the employee’s confidence a major boost, which is always good for mental wellbeing at work. Recognition might be a simple ‘thank you’ in front of the whole team. It might be a gift voucher or a day off. The important thing is that good work is recognised by everyone.

Provide Employee Education Opportunities

Employees who are fully trained and have the opportunity to further their development become more capable over time. This usually increases the confidence, morale, motivation and happiness of employees. Create dedicated training and educational areas in your office, and equip it with meeting room tables and appropriate items of office furniture to make the space conducive to group and individual learning.

Up Your Office Snack Game

A healthy, well-balanced diet is crucial for general wellbeing at work. When employees are properly nourished, they have the fuel they need to stay focused on their duties. That’s why you should give everyone a clean place to store their food and snacks. While eating at a desk can be problematic, dedicating a space for eating food and snacks can lift morale and productivity levels.

Consider Flexible Working Hours

Life is more hectic and stressful than ever before, yet technology is freeing us to work from anywhere in the world. For some people, wellbeing at work might be greatly enhanced if they were to be given the opportunity to work hours that suit them. Childcare, eldercare and familial commitments are just a few of the issues that can cause serious stress for people in the workplace. Adopt a flexible approach to working hours, and your employees may become more productive when they ARE in the office.

Consider Unlimited PTO

Unlimited paid time off may sound like a terrible idea, but it depends on the nature of the employee’s work. Obviously, this type of benefit wouldn't work for call handlers and catering staff. But if the employee can guarantee that all their work will be completed on time and to the required standard, is unlimited paid time off such a bad thing? If handled correctly, such a benefit might boost morale, enhance productivity and inspire greater loyalty.

Host Wellness-Focused Events

Every now and then, it’s a good idea to remind employees that you take their wellbeing at work seriously. Holding regular wellness events can give everyone time to decompress and remember what’s truly important in life. Team-building events, nutritional seminars, relaxation tutorials and stress workshops are just a few of the ways you can make office wellbeing a priority.

Yoga

Yoga has been shown to relieve work-related stress, which is always great for productivity levels. Set aside an afternoon every month to give those who want it the opportunity to decompress with a work-based yoga session. The productivity increase you get in return could pay for the services of a professional yoga instructor.

Meditation

According to the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic, meditation and mindfulness can lower stress levels in even the most demanding work environments. Reducing overall stress levels in your workplace can significantly improve morale and productivity.

Group Activities

Organising group activities can inject an element of fun into the workplace. Not only that, but it also fosters teamwork, healthy communication and empathy within a workforce. Raise the spirits of your team with regular team-building activities. Whether you head out for a day of kayaking or simply sit down together over a meal, the power of group activities can significantly increase overall wellbeing at work.

How to Encourage Wellbeing With Office Space

The physical working environment you create for your colleagues and employees can have a profound effect on workplace wellbeing. Take some time to plan your office layout carefully in order to facilitate communication, privacy, group activities and collaboration.

Create Breakout Spaces

Every now and then, employees respond favourably to a change of scenery and a breaking up of the everyday routine that can become tiring. Designate a breakout area for group activities, one-to-ones and sole working. Add a few appropriate items of office furniture, such as tub chairs, sofas and a range of tables.

A large breakout table can give you a lot of options for breakout working in your office. Take the Urban Poseur Table, for example. This tall meeting table with matching stools is tailor-made for informal and impromptu meetings. And the Arena Dining Set is ideal for working lunches with colleagues.

Focus Areas

If your office environment is chaotic and noisy, trying to remain productive at work can become stressful and tiring. That’s why it’s always important to give employees a quiet focus area that’s conducive to relaxed working and enhanced concentration. The addition of small desks, ergonomic office chairs and a few soft furnishings can enhance such an area significantly.

Collaboration Spaces

When it’s time to throw ideas around, brainstorm and generally work as a team, it’s always nice to leave the everyday office area behind for a change of scenery. After all, it’s difficult to hold collaborative meetings when you’re forced to talk over desks and push a selection of desks together. Create a collaboration space that works for both large and small groups by adding items of furniture such as meeting booths and desks.

Ideal for one-to-one chats, quiet discussions and sensitive conversations, the Encore Four-Person Meeting Pod delivers everything you need for effective collaboration in small numbers. Complete with a built-in table, a power supply and noise-absorption properties, this stylish piece is designed to give you comfort and privacy.

Give Employees Options

Only your employees know exactly what environment and way of working is conducive to their wellbeing at work. That’s why it’s important to put them in charge of their own working conditions as much as possible. Hold regular meetings, and ask your employees what changes you can make that will have a positive impact on office wellbeing. And hold regular one-to-one meetings to discover what works for the individuals in your organisation.

Sitting/Standing Desks

One idea that seems to be growing in popularity in offices up and down the country is the flexible use of desks. An Express 1-Person Bench Desk, for example, is perfect for working at a computer. But when you set the ideal desk height, it can also be used while standing.

To ensure your working environment is flexible, choose adjustable height desks anyone can adapt to their frame. By selecting an option with a motorised lifting mechanism, your employees can also quickly change the height if they want to work while standing. The Ventus Heated Height Adjustable Desk is perfect for this kind of flexible working.

Get in Touch

We’re here to answer any questions you have about our comprehensive range of office furniture and products that are conducive to wellbeing at work. Whether you have a particular item in mind or need our help to choose, get in touch today to speak to one of our experts. We’ll also be happy to talk you through the benefits of shopping with Office Supermarket, which include next-day delivery and discounts for bulk orders.

FAQs

What is team wellbeing?

The wellbeing of a team refers to the collective ‘wellness’ of a particular employee group. Issues that can affect team wellbeing include morale, working conditions, rewards, recognition and stress levels. When one member of a team’s wellbeing is affected, the whole team suffers.

What does wellbeing in the workplace mean?

Wellbeing in the workplace refers to the health, happiness, mental wellness and general wellness of employees during work hours. Issues that can affect workplace wellbeing include working hours, workloads, posture, facilities, work/life balance and stress.

Why is employee wellbeing important?

The welfare of employees should be a priority for all businesses. After all, without happy, productive and loyal staff, how can a business ever hope to achieve its long-term goals. Investing in wellbeing at work today can grow your bottom line in the future.