According to People’s Management, the UK’s workforce is one of the most dissatisfied in Europe. From not being paid enough to lower morale all round, more workplaces than ever before are facing a new challenge – employee retention and expansion.
Whether you’re looking to retain your existing workforce or want to expand it to be able to meet new demand, making sure the workspace, where your employees will spend the majority of their time, is in top, comfortable condition is a great way to make your workers feel as though they’re valued.
Free Office Finder claims that a third of Millennial employees have accepted a job over another based purely on the office environment. In addition, Hush Office found that 72% of job seekers choose whether to take a job or stay with a company based on their impression of the workplace, which only takes 30 seconds.
The same source also claimed that 81% of prospective employees would reject a position in an organisation if the office space itself wasn’t somewhere they could see themselves being, let alone a setting that they’d enjoy working in.
With this in mind, it’s imperative that you’re doing what you can to make sure that your office space is keeping up with the expectations of new talent. Not only will this help you to attract new employees, but it will also aid in retaining your existing ones. So, how can you design an office space to attract new talent? Let’s take a closer look:
Make it flexible
Flexibility in the workplace could refer to anything, but mainly, it relates to adaptability and freedom of choice. It’s something that will enable your workers to choose where they work depending on how they’re feeling or the project they’re working on. While you can still provide traditional desks and computers, perhaps think more seriously about adding formal breakout areas, including sofas, arm chairs and low-table space that can be comfortably utilised. This also means embracing a hybrid working model, which we’ll get onto in more detail later on in this article. You can also provide spaces that are:
- Quiet
- Closed off from the rest of the office using office partitioning
- Well-equipped with the latest technology
- Suitable for meetings, such as pods or booths for private collaboration
- Zones designed for focused work
- Areas made for collaboration
- Comfortable and relaxing
- Traditional workspaces, including a simple desk and computer set-up
Add some sustainable elements
According to 4cassociates, employees care strongly about how their employer acts regarding sustainability and climate change, and it’s a key driver in the decision-making process, overall, when it comes to accepting a job or choosing to work for a different employer altogether. With this in mind, it’s important that you incorporate some sustainable elements into your office if you’re undergoing a redesign. There are several things you can include to make sure your office is a more sustainable workplace, including:
- Adding LED lighting instead of traditional lightbulbs and tubes
- Having dedicated recycling bins for cardboard, paper, plastic and more
- Installing smart thermostats to regulate energy usage, which can also include air conditioning systems
- Considering using solar or wind methods to power your office space
- Making sure there are enough spaces in the car park for electric vehicles
- Incorporating plants throughout the office
Inclusivity is key
Reworked states that inclusivity is incredibly important. This is because it creates an environment where all individuals, regardless of background, have a voice in the conversation and are also valued and treated equally. By creating a safe space for your employees to work, you’ll be sure to attract new talent while retaining your existing workforce. Other reasons why inclusivity is important in the office are as follows:
- Inclusion boosts engagement, claims Gallup
- Inclusion builds a sense of belonging, states reworked
- Inclusion improves employee experience
- Inclusion enhances workplace innovation, according to Amber Corrin, an account director at Spire Communications
- Leaders who are more inclusive are more effective, claims the Harvard Business Review
Invest in new technology
Investing in new and state-of-the-art technology will make the lives of your employees far easier. It also enhances efficiency and productivity in the workplace. If your workers have the right tools to get the job done, they’ll be able to fulfil their roles in a way that is timely and effective every single time. You might even find that it will free up some more time for your employees to focus more on value-added tasks, rather than spending more time than required to carry out more mundane jobs that could be done with the help of automation, for example.
Aim to have a hybrid working model
According to Flow Scape Solutions, employees prefer hybrid work over roles that require them to be in the office full time. This shows that your company is willing to be flexible and has the best interests of its employees at the forefront of its priorities. This will help to make employees feel more valued, therefore boosting morale. Not only does this give your employees a better work/life balance, but it also means that you trust them, which can also make your workers feel as though they’re valued. But why else to employees prefer a workplace that offers a hybrid work model? Let’s find out:
- It provides them with a better work/life balance
- It increases productivity, as workers can spend more time working at home than in the office, surrounded by other employees
- It reduces commuting costs and time
- It enhances their overall well-being
- It leads to great job satisfaction
- It widens the talent pool
- It builds a stronger relationship between employees and employers
Ask for help from the experts here at FIT Interiors
If you’re still in doubt about how to design an office that will attract new talent, then look to the experts here at FIT Interiors. We have a dedicated team of office designers who will be pleased to offer their advice, guidance and expertise when you need it most. It can be a daunting task to redesign an office space, which is why we can be with you every step of the way.
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FIT Interiors is pleased to provide a wide range of office fit-out and office refurbishment services to clients throughout Nottingham and the surrounding areas. As part of that, we can offer suspended ceilings, office partitioning, office furniture and more. If you’d like further information about the office fit-outs in Nottingham we can provide, or to get some advice from our experienced office designers, get in touch with a member of our friendly, professional team today – we’re always happy to hear from you.