Can Office Design Boost Well-Being?

Can buildings boost well-being?  Yes, it seems that there is consensus among many researchers and psychologists that this is so, however, hard evidence will take years to produce.

The "soft" evidence, and common sense, shows that people are much more apt to be satisfied in their jobs, have better retention, and increased productivity in pleasant work environments.

“It’s clear people will work hard in even the most awful of workplaces," says Judith Heerwagen, an environmental psychologist. "A paycheck or fear of being fired is a great motivator. But doing so is an effort; it’s stressful. One has to wonder if the people are working to their true potential. It’s a high cost to pay for both sides.”

According to 2004 data from the American Institute of Stress, work-related stress and resulting accidents accounted for 75-80% of absenteeism. In turn, this leads to an annual cost of over $300 billion dollars.

With average employee costs estimated to be 10 times larger than facility costs a small increase in productivity can create a huge impact on the bottom line.

Doesn't it make sense to see how you can make some small changes in your office space to help your employees feel more motivated?

Want to read more? The Feng Shui Advantage: Practical Business Strategies is available now!

Interested in what we can do? Give us a call to discuss your situation.