The office is more than just a series of rooms that you need to give your staff a place to work. It can do a lot more than that and give a lot more, too. It can make their jobs not only easier but even happier. A lot of the problems employees might have with a job can easily be solved by using the office correctly. We’re going to look at some solutions right now.

Space

The first thing you need to think about is how productively you’re using your space. Are employees confined to one tight space that makes them feel penned in? Is the office perhaps too open and rife with distraction? Work with your employees to test mixes of different elements and see which improves the workflow of the office. Make sure that you have as much diversity in your use of space as your employees have diversity of task.

Organisation

The space you create plays into it, but the organisation of the office goes deeper than that. It involves regular office clearance to keep it tidy and free of clutter that can get in the way. It means situating supplies and tools in place where employees can easily reach them. It even involves the kind of internal communications systems used. You can even help individual employees better organise their space. Simply installing things like cork boards into their cubicles can make it easier for them to keep on top of their work.

Wellness

You don’t just want to make sure that they’re working as best as they can, either. You also want to take care of the other aspects of their work life that impact that work. This includes their health and wellness. Taking care of that means actually caring about the risks they face at work. Risks like eyestrain due to poor lighting or the risk of repetitive strain injury.

Happiness

Something a bit more abstract than wellness is aiming for happiness as well. You can’t always help an employee be happy at work. But if you can, it’s usually through changes to the office. Changes like making sure they have a separate, fulfilling break room that actually helps them take breaks. Inviting in more natural light and using office plants to add a bit more life to the work environment. Even taking the time to get out there and foster positive, friendly communication.

Goals

If there’s one major downside to the cubicle crush, it’s that it can cut employees off from the bigger picture. They become more task than objective oriented. So you need to change that. You need to make goals apparent, not only in communication, but in the office. Define clear goals for your staff and put them on display. One layout that has worked well for some companies is using a large blackboard with objectives and motivational messages you can put on it.

Hopefully, this article has given you an idea of how to better use your space. A great workplace is a vital part of a great company. Don’t neglect it.