The Benefits of Designing an Inclusive Workspace
If you are looking for a way that your business can stand out and attract the top talent in your industry in 2023, designing an office space that is all-inclusive is the best way to stand out from the crowd.
Understanding that there is no ‘one size fits all‘ for employees will help you create and build an office environment that gives all different kinds of people the opportunity to thrive in their careers, feel comfortable and produce high-quality work in the process.
Why is an inclusive workplace important?
For businesses who want to compete and be held in high regard, it is important to recognise that the way one person works, may not work for another and with many of us spending more time in the office than at home in the modern age, it is essential that businesses create a workplace that is high functioning for everyone.
The modern office is home to employees of all different ages, career levels and personality traits which are all key considerations for how you develop an office design that will cater to everyone from experienced ‘baby boomers’ to entry-level ‘Gen Z’ employees who are just starting out on their journey into the corporate world.
The workplace of today needs to now go beyond the diversity improvements made in recruitment by being placed at the forefront of the office design planning process too.
What does inclusive office design look like?
Engaging your employees is the key to success for your business and this has been a challenging prospect for many UK businesses in the last decade – with a 2016 study finding that only 8% of employees were engaged in their respective workplaces.
Giving your employees greater control of their office environment has been considered one of the best ways to improve engagement during working hours, further proving that the ‘one size fits all’ working environments no longer serve people.
An inclusive office design can look very different for different businesses in varying industries and should be considered one a case to case basis which is why it is so important to really connect with your employees and understand exactly what they needed from their working environment.
Building an office design that promotes positive well-being has been championed as what should be at the core values of your office design, ensuring your creating an employee experience that focuses on promoting good health both body and mind with plenty of natural light is a great place to start to make sure people can focus on their work performance.
To get the most out of an inclusive office design, businesses need to create an inspiring and well-planned space to ensure maximum productivity and job satisfaction can be reached for employees.
Considering a complete office refit and refurbishment can be the best way to start a fresh and really hone in on developing a workplace people thrive in and a business people want to be involved in.
Inclusive design should not be an afterthought for businesses and should not be a retroactive measure – this can be achieved by ensuring inclusivity is integrated in every part of your office design planning process.