When you’re running a business, you need to set your priorities right from the start. Unfortunately, when it comes to priorities, there are more than one things that matter. Environmental considerations, budget, community involvement, innovation, social values are only some of the priorities the typical business can choose to display. So, understandably, you wouldn’t think of putting comfort on this already long list. However, comfort plays a unique role in the business world.
Whether you are building a comfortable workplace or a comfortable public site, comfort is synonymous with welcoming and enjoyable. Your people, customers and employees alike, are appreciative of comfort because it is a way for businesses to make them feel valued. More importantly, people naturally avoid uncomfortable places, whether it is affecting them at a physical or emotional level. Comfort may not attract visitors or talent, but its absence can turn them away for good.
Make sure you can regulate the temperature
If you run an IT department and host your own servers, you are probably familiar with high-quality water cooled chillers that can ensure your IT systems remain cool even during the hottest days of summer. Servers can shut down when the temperature gets too high, which could make entire websites, applications, databases, and software tools unavailable. When a business chooses to self-host for safety purposes, the last thing they expect is to lose their servers in the process!
Yet air conditioning solutions are not just here to protect your tech. Employees are unwilling to stay in offices that get too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Nobody wants to wear an extra jumper at work or turn into a puddle of sweat. There is no law for minimum or maximum working temperatures in the office, but being able to regulate the temperature indoors will keep your staff comfortable and productive.
Don’t strain your employees’ eyes
Bad lighting can be a problem in the workplace. Direct sunlight on the screen, for instance, can cause headache and make it harder to perform. Employees can ask for an anti-glare screen protector that can be attached directly to their device.
What an employer can do, as well, is to check their lighting system. Depending on the type of business, you may want to turn up the brightness level or not. For instance, a place that handles items that can change in the direct sunlight, such as a perfume shop, should maximise electric lighting and avoid letting too much natural light in. On the other hand, an office will need to combine both natural light and light bulbs to achieve the right atmosphere. A dark workplace can drain both motivation and energy. So, even if you have plenty of windows and skylights in the office, you also want to consider an adequate lighting system that will ensure your employees are never left sitting in a dark environment. Alternatively, the business should also include options to dim the light, such as blinds and desk lamps.
In a public space, such as a shopping centre, shaded areas tend to be perceived as dangerous and unwelcoming.
Manage those loud noises
Noises often need to be part of the workplace, depending on your industry sector. Excessive noise can be an occupational hazard for millions of workers worldwide in industries such as manufacturing, woodworking, metalworking, construction, textiles, agriculture, and even food and drink. Discomfort can come from a variety of factors, including loud music, electrical tools, heavy machinery, production lines, and electrical motors. As an employer, you can’t always avoid noises that are a necessary part of the business processes. However, you can lessen the risks for your team. The occupational noise burden is one of the leading causes of hearing loss, affecting almost 30% of the workforce in Europe. The introduction of hearing protection within the workplace isn’t a novelty. Yet, more often than not, protective gear isn’t replaced or maintained regularly. Going the extra mile can make a big difference for the comfort of the team.
Even quiet noises are disruptive
When your business isn’t linked to any occupational loud noises, you tend to assume that the everyday sounds of the office are harmless. However, according to the Sound Agency, “sound affects us psychologically, cognitively, and behaviourally”. Indeed, the typical open space layout of the office tend to maximise sound propagation. Phone calls, chats between co-workers, and the humming of the office kitchen fridge can be some of the noises that affect your team day after day. Noise pollution can be invisible, but its impact is dramatic on mental health, productivity, and concentration. Businesses can consider ad hoc solutions such as introducing more flexible working hours to reduce simultaneous presence on site.
Restroom cleanliness
Whether in an office or a public space, restrooms cleanliness can play a huge role in setting the mood. Broken toilets and taps, for instance, do not only leave a bad impression. They also increase stress levels as they can show a lack of care and maintenance. People are more likely to mistrust the rest of the bathroom. If the business can’t be bothered with repairs, can it be trusted to stick with the cleaning routine?
Employees and customers alike cite dirty and unmaintained toilets as one of the reasons for leaving. From an updated maintenance routine to keeping soaps and toilet roll stocks filled, good toilets can run a business.
Desk layouts
As mentioned, the open space layout can be a game-changer for creativity and cooperative projects. But it can also drive noise levels through the roof for noise-sensitive individuals. Additionally, a bad office design can be a source of discomfort in a post-pandemic world, where employees are concerned about germ spreading. Workplace distancing is not optional, even if it means transforming your elegant open space. Individuals can find themselves stuck in a position where it is difficult for them to stand up or maintain a good working posture. This can not only lead to physical pain but also affect their concentration and productivity.
Additionally, uncomfortable layouts inside the office tend to create a high turnover rate.
Comfort is not a legal requirement for businesses. Yet it is a sign of caring and looking after the employees and the customers. Lacking comfort reflects negatively on the brand and ultimately could drive your assets away.