Stress, anxiety and depression led to 12.8 million lost working days in the UK last year, which is why there is an increased need for awareness of wellbeing in the work environment.
Well done office design is one of the elements that ensures workers’ mental and physical health. This has led many companies to stray away from cubicle-laden, fluorescent lit offices.
According to The World Green Building Council, seven categories can be utilized to promote workplace wellness including improved air quality, maintaining hydration, providing healthy eating options, boosting natural lighting, encouraging physical activity, offering ergonomic furniture and improving mental health.
Providing the correct lighting has been proven to have a positive impact on eyesight, as well as mental health. According to an experiment conducted by CBRE, artificial lighting that mimicked light changes during the day and adapted to our circadian rhythm improved productivity by 18%.
Encouraging physical activity in the workplace can be as simple as well-located staircases. Including on-site gyms, yoga studios or even setting up lunchtime walking groups can allow workers to focus their physical health, thus improving their overall work performance.
An example of incorporating all of these elements is The Future Works building in Slough, Berkshire. The office building has a Wi-Fi connected roof terrace with tables and benches for working outdoors, and areas for socialization and wellness activities.
