How Does Office Furniture Affect Productivity
Have you thought about how office furniture affects workplace productivity and efficiency? Many factors influence how well workers do their jobs, of course. Everything from interpersonal relations to working conditions–even temperature, lighting, and ventilation‒could affect your workers’ ability to perform their tasks effectively.
But office furniture is an oft-neglected factor when implementing a workplace efficiency strategy. In particular, little to no thought is given to how furniture selection and placement can make a workspace safer, more comfortable, and more conducive to working, but properly planning your office space can go a long ways.
How Office Furniture Influences Productivity
How much of a role does furniture play in influencing the productivity of office workers? Here are some things to consider:
Better Organization Increases Efficiency
Office furniture that provides more storage options results in better organization, which in turn improves efficiency. Clutter is always a problem in any workplace. It can get in the way of performing routine tasks, slow down operations, and even pose a safety risk. It can also make for a less pleasant workplace, which can affect worker productivity in many ways.
You can eliminate many of these problems by installing office furniture that either comes with storage bins or receptacles or otherwise improves organization. Filing cabinets are ideal for this purpose, although you don’t have to make do with the drab, gray metal pieces from yesteryears. Modern filing cabinets are a lot more aesthetically pleasing and work well with modern office designs.
You could also go for office furniture that incorporates fixed storage solutions. These can free up more space and still give you the option to stash items that aren’t used frequently but still need easy access to.
Proper Office Furniture Boosts Productivity Through Comfort
Working for several hours day in and day out subjects the body to considerable stress. Workers often have to put up with considerable pain and discomfort, whether from being bent over a desk or performing the same movements over and over. But the right type of office furniture can help.
Ergonomic furniture helps prevent and reduce discomfort and back pain caused by improper posture. They also reduce the risk of injury resulting from repetitive movements, which often impairs productivity and results in missed workdays.
Keep in mind that ergonomic furniture is usually a bit more expensive than standard pieces. The financial outlay can be significant, especially if you have to furnish an entire office. But this is an investment that will pay off many times over during the usable life of the furniture. And considering how much you will save due to reduced absenteeism, the cost will be more than worth it over the long term.
Office Furniture Can Improves Access and Workflow
The right pieces of furniture can also enhance your office’s design and make it easier for workers to move around. Areas that were previously hard to reach will become more easily accessible, and obstacles that can hinder workflow will be eliminated.
If improving access and workflow are your priorities, it would be a good idea to purchase a set of furniture instead of individual pieces. This ensures that they are well-coordinated in terms of design and aesthetics. In addition, a well-designed set of furniture has a better chance of working well together, enhancing workspace and minimizing the amount of real estate they occupy.
The importance of improving worker access can’t be overstated. Anything that affects mobility and hinders access contributes to reduced productivity. They slow down work, make it more difficult to perform even relatively simple tasks, and generally make the office environment less conducive to working.
But with the right furniture, these obstacles can be reduced or eliminated. So if you want to identify factors that contribute to impaired performance and reduced productivity, one of the first things you should consider is your office furniture.
More Privacy
Office furniture can help segment the office space and give workers more privacy. This can reduce distractions and enable employees to focus more on their work. You can even use furniture to designate work and personal use areas, giving workers a space they can enjoy during breaks.
Can Office Furniture Boosts Employee Morale?
Finally, having a good set of office furniture can improve employee morale. They give workers something to look forward to when they come to work every day and generally make the workplace more pleasant. This can also improve interoffice relationships and cultivate a healthier work environment overall.
There are many other ways by which office furniture can improve workplace productivity. Of course, you do have to spend some money initially to get just the right pieces, but the investment will pay off for years to come.
For the best office furniture in Spokane, WA get in touch with our team here at Continuum Office Environments and we will work with you from planning your office all the way to customized installation.