Whenever I watch the television show CSI, I wonder about the workspace represented on the show. As well groomed investigators walk through modern, spacious, well lit halls on TV, I can’t help but think about what the workspace of real crime scene investigators look like.
Certainly, our workspaces will not look like television sets, but the workplace environment does impact on how well we are able to work. For example, at least one grocery store chain in Ireland allows cashiers to sit on rolling chairs. I have not seen this in North America. I assume that this is a step to reduce worker injuries. At a store that I frequent, cashiers look onto a row of mini-stores instead of out towards a wall of windows. To me, the store always feels dark and I am reluctant to shop there when the weather is nice. I wonder if the cashiers feel the same way.
Office environments are just as important as retail environments. Tavia Grant writes in The Globe and Mail that “a growing body of academic research suggests that smart designs can boost creativity and productivity, and cut absenteeism.” Furthermore, she references a 2007 ICM Research survey of 1,857 workers from Europe which states “60 Percentage of workers who feel their office layout/design increased their stress (because of clutter, desk arrangements, lack of space).”
In 2004, Microsoft published a press release that indicated “nine out of 10 said the design setup of their workstation directly affects their ability to be most productive at work. More than 50 percent of those surveyed said one of the best ways employers can show their commitment to employees' success is to provide them with the latest technologies so they can do their jobs more efficiently.” Can we assume that today’s results would be similar?
First and foremost, health and safety requirements must be met. The U.S. Department of Labor is one source of information in this regard. But, beyond health and safety, comfort and efficiency considerations can contribute towards or detract from productivity.
These concerns include:
-temperature,
-seating and proximity of equipment,
-light,
-proximity to others; personal space,
-room to interact with colleagues,
-sound and privacy concerns,
-neatness and organization,
-appearance
Jane Hodges tells us in bnet about three office renovations that include room to collaborate and consider available light, privacy, and how to minimize sound levels. For a visual representation of helpful and not so helpful designs, click here.
The need for space to collaborate is an important consideration. As Becker and Sims of Cornell University point out “Finding the right balance of open and closed offices requires understanding the purpose of the office, and even more so, the nature of the work being done.”
How does your organization consider employee productivity when office space is designed or changed?
References:
Becker, Franklin and William Sims. “Offices That Work” Cornell University [http://iwsp.human.cornell.edu]. October 2001.
Bnet. “Image Gallery: Best and Worst Workplace Design” [www.bnet.com]. Obtained May 29, 2009.
Grant, Tavia. “Weekend Workout: A blueprint for prosperity.” The Globe and Mail, Report on Business [www.theglobeandmail.com]. May 15, 2009.
Hodges, Jane. “Three New Designs for Optimizing Collaboration.” Bnet [www.bnet.com]. Obtained May 29, 2009.
Microsoft . “Nine Out of 10 Employees Link Workspace Design to Their Productivity.” Press release [www.microsoft.com]. June 28, 2004.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “Computer Stations” [www.osha.gov]. April 4, 2008.
