While it’s natural at times to feel overwhelmed or stressed at work, research by the mental health charity, Mind, suggests that 60% of employees have reported feeling lonely or isolated in the office. Leaving employees to suffer in silence could lead to poor mental health, which, ultimately, could damage businesses as a result.
Today we’re offering our top ways that employers can combat the growing epidemic of workplace loneliness using interior design. From a social hub in the staff kitchen to breakout areas and versatile office layouts, we’ll cover it all so that you can achieve a workspace that encourages social interaction in a bid to end office isolation.
Adopt a versatile office layout
The layout of the office has a greater impact on creating an inclusive and social workplace than initially thought. After all, the more your space promotes collaboration, the less lonely your employees are likely to feel.
In the past, offices have favored closed-off areas such as cubicles or segregated workplaces with the aim of promoting productivity. However, it seems that these office designs have begun to be outdated, without acknowledging your employees’ social needs. They actively discourage collaboration, often resulting in a highly stressful working environment where employees are more likely to become introverted and place themselves under a lot of pressure rather than asking for help.
Collaborative spaces often don’t require a full office overhaul. From air-hockey tables to beanbags or whiteboards, small gathering spaces to bounce ideas around or simply relax for a well-earned break are great for restoring your employees’ attention spans. Collaborative spaces can allow small groups to share their ideas. Which makes it easier to suggest new innovative processes and relieve pressure. This will lead to happy workers who feel included in the emotional culture of the workplace. Thus forming a stronger bond within your team.
Make space for a social hub
A properly designed kitchen has the potential to become the heart of your office. Kitchens are natural spots for gatherings and conversation to take place – from morning coffee making to chatting over lunch preparations.
A cramped kitchen with little light will create an overcrowded, uncomfortable space. So instead, why not opt for an open-plan dining area with enough space for your employees to eat and relax? Adding a breakfast bar will provide an informal seating area, while also increasing the food preparation space available. The focal point of the kitchen, a breakfast bar is likely to achieve a high amount of traffic. Complete your design with a durable, high-quality granite worktop to ensure that your social hub is built for longevity as well as functionality. With multi-level collaboration becoming increasingly popular amongst modern work environments that Pixar and Google are renowned for, there’s no better time to optimize your kitchen space with collaboration at the forefront of the mind.
Create breakout areas
Enclosed workspaces can often result in employees spending much more time glued to their computer screens. Combat this office design which limits collaboration and discussion. Create a breakout area for employees to hold informal meetings or relax for a ten-minute break during a tough job.
It’s as simple as purchasing a few cushioned seats and positioning them or providing a room solely for breaks. Alternatively, if space is a little on the tight side, replicate collaborative break times using scheduled conversational activities. Stand-up office meetings encourage employees to discuss their days and where they may need help. Stand up desks are a great way to encourage employees to gather and share their ideas. With 44% of people feeling that work-related pressures isolated them from other staff members, it’s time to advocate sharing workload responsibilities. So, to encourage conversation and collaboration across desk spaces, arrange desks into large tables in a meeting-style setup.
With our design ideas, we hope that you’ll be on your way to creating an inclusive and social working environment with collaboration at the forefront. As humans are social animals, it’s natural for us to seek connections with our work colleagues. This is why we believe that office spaces should reflect to ensure a healthy and happy work environment.
Read this article to learn how to create wellness spaces in your office!
Jeff Gapinski
Back to top
