What to Ask Employees Before Planning an Office Re-design

Over recent decades, the importance of employee satisfaction has been universally recognised. To improve the workplace, employers all around the world are employing novel management and HR practices. But what role does office design have in making the workplace more pleasant and productive?

Employee satisfaction and productivity can be influenced by office layouts. Inquiring into what your employees desire from a redesign can help foster a healthy business culture, as well as increase employee engagement.

1. What do they enjoy about their current working environment?

The first thing to inquire about is what they enjoy about their current work environment. 'Don't fix what isn't broken,' as the adage goes. Some employees may like the atmosphere of an open plan office or a large kitchen area. Don't waste time and money modifying parts of the office design that are working properly.

2. Do they perform better when they collaborate or when they work alone?

It's critical to figure out how staff prefer to work. This will aid in making good design decisions. Companies may believe, for example, that their open-plan office is collaborative. However, it's possible that it's not the right setting for their staff.

Many people believe that open-plan offices aren't as good for collaboration as you may expect. When it comes to brainstorming, individuals prefer to lease meeting rooms or modular office spaces that are free of distractions.

3. How crucial are privacy and transparency?

Glass office dividers are an excellent alternative if your staff value transparency. They give privacy while allowing natural light to flow through. Glass dividers with beautiful glass manifestations can be built for added seclusion. This not only improves branding, but also provides additional privacy.

4. What does the existing workplace arrangement lack?

Employees may wish that break rooms had more comfortable seating or that they had more desk space. When constructing a new office, strive to incorporate everyone's suggestions. It will boost employee happiness in the long run, as most of us spend a significant amount of time at work.