If you're considering improving your office interiors in London, have you thought about its long terms effects?
2019 sees us operate in a multi-generational workplace; from the latter members of the Baby Boomer generation who are looking forward to a long retirement after many years of hard work, to Generation Z, young people who are just embarking on their professional working life.
Already established in their working lives (but with many years still left ahead of them), are Millennials. Now aged between 21-35, experts have predicted that from next year, they will make up 35% per cent of the world's workforce. As time wears on and previous generations grow older,they will undoubtedly become the dominant generation in the workplace within the next decade.
It's clear then, that any forward thinking business must design their offices around this group's needs in order to attract and keep them, in the effort to attain long term success.
But where to start?
Bringing a new, entrepreneurial way of thinking and working to the company, Millennials will prove to be a valuable asset going forward. The right office design can therefore increase their productivity and quality of work; the two pillars that hold up any business. Here, we're going to discuss how office design can be catered towards their particular needs:
Millennials are more aware of what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle than perhaps any preceding generation. This is why they desire to work for someone who values them, their health and what it takes to balance their home and work experiences.
A great way to start would be the creation of outdoor areas that offer employees the opportunity to take breaks in an environment that is so different from the potentially stressful one inside the work arena. The great thing about introducing these'natural green spaces' in your office interiors in London, is that they do not necessarily have to be 'indoors'; taking a biophilic approach to your office design can realise a natural environment just as well.
Healthy eating is also omnipotent for Millennials. A workplace that can introduce facilities and the means for employees to experience a healthier lifestyle will prove more appealing than those who do not; a simple kitchen area, cafeteria or breakout room will suffice.
Another big part of wellness is our physical condition. Sat down for upwards of 7 hours a day, is it any surprise that the condition and setups of the furniture we use have a massive bearing on how we feel at work(and even as we get home)? Aside from the comfort aspect, Millennials will also look for a workplace that grabs their attention; using furniture is a great way of doing so. An increasing number of businesses are lending their company branding to their office interiors in London; not only to attract attention but also to create a unique environment, one that drives everyone on to bring success to the company.
With more ways to communicate than ever before, Millennials will appreciate flexibility in regards to how they're able to work. An open office that allows increased communication and productivity will give them the opportunity to engage freely with their fellows.
A great way to provide an office space that values flexibility, is to introduce communal areas, such as co-working spaces that boosts creativity by increasing the ease of which employees are able to interact.As a generation that places the need to communicate above all, these spaces may prove key in nurturing their skills.
Being the generation that grew in time with rapid developments in technology during the last two decades, Millennials are au fait with anything that has a screen.In fact, it's likely the case that the average Millennial will have a better quality of tech at home than what they use at work. It is essential then, that they are provided with the right tech to impress and to give them all the support they need to produce their best work.
Any business who is serious about maintaining a long-term workforce must invest in tools that provide their employees with the ease to go about their daily work. Whether that's anything from a high-quality keyboard for typists to communication apps, internal e-mail and live chat platforms for people to communicate effectively. Presenting Millennials with different options regarding the tech they use will allow them to choose how they work rather than them, being held back by the limitations of the workplace and/or the lack of choice on offer.Them taking ownership can only lead to them feeling more comfortable in their roles, resulting in high productivity and a high quality of work.
It can probably go without saying that stress has a major impact on the workplace. Taking both physical and mental form, the feeling of stress will lead to frustration, low moods, detachment and illness. This is why many forward thinking businesses lend the design of their office interiors in London to the battle against workplace stress.Creating an environment that encourages interaction and the opportunity for people to take breaks is a great way to reduce stress levels; they say to an employee that they're 'not alone' in what they're experiencing and that the help is there for them to refocus, reconnect or simply to ask questions.
Such a culture can be fashioned by specialist facilities,such as a cafe, a lounge area, even a games room. These places are designed to detach an employee from the stressful working environment, giving them the timeout to relax the mind and to recollect their thoughts. The alternative is them,sitting at their desk growing increasingly stressed and achieving only unhappiness, so it makes absolute sense for an office to provide them with a place where they can refresh for a while. More often than not, they will return feeling reinvigorated and ready to tackle their work, and thankful to their employers that such a facility exists.
If you are indeed thinking about improving your office interiors in London for the future, why not get in touch with the expert workplace design team here at Oaktree Interiors? As part of our leading service, we offer a completely FREE, no obligation consultancy service that takes into account all of your (and your employees) requirements, creating a unique design proposal. Taking the form of 2-D and 3-D images, it is the perfect way to get an insight into what your ideal office interiors may look like, without you spending a single penny.
Want to learn more? Then please feel free to give us a call on 0345 21 86955 or send us an e-mail to hello@oaktreeoffice.com
