What do employees really want in a workspace? While wellness programs and onsite gyms are trendy, most people in healthcare sales and marketing are looking for simpler perks. The characteristics of a workplace influence everything from productivity to employee engagement. Here are some of the top things employees are looking for in a workspace.
A View to the Outdoors
CBRE, a notable commercial real estate, and investment firm, recently surveyed more than 1,500 professionals and asked them about their workspace preferences. Over half of the professionals surveyed said the top amenity was natural light and an outside view. Humans are innately drawn to nature, so when they’re cooped up all day at work, they want to still feel a connection to the outdoors. Many professionals also like to have natural light in their workspace because it helps them stay focused and alert. If you aren’t able to structure your office space to include outside views, consider bringing nature inside with skylights, earth tones, and living things such as plants or aquariums with aquatic life.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90452225/the-one-thing-employees-really-want-in-a-workspace
Clearly Defined Spaces
Professionals want versatility and practicality. They want each of their functions to have its own unique space. For example, they want a designated space for collaboration and a designated space that is free of distractions. You might have a separate space for meetings and a separate space for socializing. Professionals want their workspace to accommodate the natural variety of the work they perform. They want a quiet, calming place to work when they need to concentrate, but they also want an energetic space to work when they need to be creative. Think about how you can create more specialized zones in your office that support the tasks your team performs.
Connectivity
Another thing most professionals look for in a workspace is the ability to easily connect with colleagues. Collaboration is the name of the game in healthcare and diagnostics sales. Employees need to be able to work freely with coworkers and bounce ideas off each other. Walls hinder the creative process. Employees also want to be able to comfortably interact with their managers. If your organization doesn’t have the resources to renovate, think of other ways to increase connectivity between employees and management, such as an open-door policy. Having designated “quiet hours” or “power hours” can help the team members plan their time to plan their workday for “collaboration times” versus “head-down, focus times.”
When companies think of improving the workplace, they often focus on fun perks like a ping pong table. Most professionals, however, care more about functionality. They want natural light, to feel connected to nature, and a design that allows them to concentrate. They also want a design that promotes teamwork and collaboration. If you have trouble keeping your team engaged, start thinking about how you can tweak the functionality of your workplace to accommodate the diverse needs of your employees.
