A growing number of office and furniture designers are advocating for the use of residential and natural themes as a way to bolster employee retention, productivity, and overall health to keep current and future employees happy. Although it varies by client, one respondent noted: “Our organization prefers to design spaces to be a little bit less sterile, a little bit less intimidating to use. By incorporating elements like reclaimed wood from picnic benches, we encourage people to walk up and have a touchdown.”

Psychological Well-Being :

Exposure to comfortable and natural settings

The average hours a person spends in their life working

of employees have experienced symptoms of poor mental health where work was a contributing factor

of line managers believe employee well-being is their responsibility

of board members and senior managers believe their organization supports people with mental health issues... but only 11% discussed a mental health problem with their line manager

have received some form of training on mental health at work

would find even basic training in common mental health conditions useful

Physical Well-Being

Small businesses are beginning to focus more on general wellness initiatives by offering yoga classes, walking clubs, daycare facilities, as well as installing bike racks and wellness rooms. Some companies go so far as to provide recreational amenities like ping-pong and pool tables as stress relievers. Others are creating employee-led health councils to develop fun ways to promote wellness, according to Building Design & Construction. Height-adjustable tables, perch stools, and other ‘active’ furniture are becoming standard features in the workplace as employers take a more active interest in employee well-being.

More than three in five organizations have budgets devoted to wellness

Over half of these organizations are expecting their budgets to increase in the next two years

Ergonomics

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
compiled a collection of 250 case studies that demonstrate
the cost saving benefits of ergonomics. Some examples of
furniture related ergonomic interventions include:

• Software designers at TRW (39 employees) experienced
  a 39% increase in productivity after the company installed
  ergonomic chairs, acoustic dampeners, and a variety of
  private and collaborative spaces.

• An anonymous manufacturer (30 workers) detailed in a
  Labor Turnover study in the International Journal of
  Industrial Ergonomics that they found ergonomically
  redesigned employee workstations reduced lost
  workdays by 15 percent and turnover by 25 percent.

An increasing proportion of employers are prioritizing workplace ergonomics to improve employee health and reduce costly work-related injuries. Evidence suggests that ergonomic interventions can reduce the risk of costly work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), improve work productivity and quality, increase employee engagement and satisfaction, decrease employee turnover, and instill a workplace safety culture. This appeals to millennial generations who are perhaps “more up to date on the value of standing or moving around more than baby boomers are”.