Office spaces are there to serve the company, but if you’re not excited to be in a space for eight hours every day, you’re not likely to feel motivated or excited about the work you’re doing. A fun and rewarding office environment boosts mood, creativity, productivity, and more. Employees are also more likely to feel comfortable expressing concerns and communicating effectively. Healthier, happier employees are more likely to achieve their goals and stick around for long careers. If you’re ready to give your office space a boost, here are some exciting and useful things your office space needs.
1. Actual Break Rooms
Don’t just pick a random room, stick a coffee maker in it, and call it a break room. A break room should be a place employees actually want to take a break in, and it’s a waste of space if no one is utilizing it for the intended purpose. Add comfortable furniture, a television, and maybe even a gaming system. Stock the room with snacks and drinks, and add a reverse osmosis water filter. The right snacks can keep people from growing hungry and losing focus before or after lunch.
2. Office Sports Teams
One way to improve team bonding while being active is to start an office sports team. Don’t make this a mandatory activity, but you can add some incentives like free food after games to encourage people to attend, even if just to cheer on the players. Adult sports leagues often cost money to join, so this is a wonderful opportunity to offer a fun and healthy activity to employees that they don’t have to pay for.
3. Pet Policies
Not every office has the right dynamic that allows for an office pet. Something like a fish would be appropriate for just about any office, especially if you’re looking for a low-maintenance mascot. Just be sure to assign responsibility for your office pet, or your fish friend might not get fed on time! Pets can do wonders for reducing stress in the workplace, so another option you can consider is allowing employees to bring their dogs to work. However, it is vital that you look up any local laws first. You should require vaccinations and set up procedures to make sure everyone’s animals get along. A calm adult dog that visits everyone before curling up on a dog bed is a good addition, whereas an excitable puppy chewing on office equipment and stealing things is a distraction.
4. Free Classes
Every now and then, consider bringing in an expert to teach a fun class, or bringing your employees to a new location for the class to be taught. Even better if the class is completely unrelated to your industry, you’re not requiring people to stay late, and you take these field trips during the day so everyone is technically getting paid to participate. Don’t do this if people are overloaded with work you still expect them to get done, but a surprise class can be a great reward and break in the routine. You can take cooking classes, wine-tasting classes, pottery classes, and more.
5. Mandatory Breaks
It has somehow become the cultural norm to work through lunch breaks. If you notice this trend in your office, consider whether or not employee workloads are unrealistic. Stressed, overworked employees are more likely to lose motivation and care less about creative solutions. This stress may even cause them to seek employment elsewhere. After evaluating your workloads, do your part to encourage breaks, even if a break is needed at a random time of day. Taking the time to reset with a walk, a game, or even a hobby can improve employee problem-solving capabilities and energy levels over time. Do your part to make sure these breaks aren’t monitored or punished to encourage people to utilize the resources you’re providing.
The right office space can make or break a company over time. By evaluating your business needs and collaborating with your employees, you can create an environment that everyone loves.