AdjustingtoaFlexibleFuture

TheBenefitsofAdjustableWorkEnvironments

Inthepastyear,wehaveallexperiencedanewlevelofuncertaintyinourlives.TheCOVID-19pandemichaspushedustoadaptquicklytonewwaysoflivingandworking.Manypeoplehavefoundthemselvesworkingfromhome,ofteninless-than-idealconditions.Butwhatifworkenvironmentsweremoreflexible,allowingemployeestoadjusttheirworkspacetofittheirneedsandpreferences?Inthisarticle,we’lllookatsomeofthebenefitsofadjustableworkenvironmentsandhowtheycanhelpbothemployeesandemployers.

IncreasedComfortandProductivity

Oneofthebiggestbenefitsofanadjustableworkenvironmentisincreasedcomfortandproductivity.Thinkabouthowmuchtimeyouspendsittingatyourdeskeachday.Ifyourchairisuncomfortable,oryourdeskistoohighortoolow,itcancausepainanddiscomfort,leadingtodecreasedproductivity.Anadjustablechairanddeskcanhelpyoufindacomfortableandhealthyposture,whichcanhelpyoustayfocusedandproductivethroughouttheday. Inadditiontoadjustablefurniture,adjustablelightingandroomtemperaturecanalsocontributetoamorecomfortableandproductiveworkenvironment.Manypeoplefindthattheyworkbestinnaturallight,butthismaynotbepossibleinallworkspaces.Adjustabletasklightingcanhelpreduceeyestrainandcreateamorecomfortableworkspace.Andtemperaturecontrolcanbeabigfactorinemployeecomfortandproductivity-studieshaveshownthatemployeesworkmoreefficientlyinenvironmentswheretemperaturesarekeptbetween68and77degreesFahrenheit.

IncreasedEmployeeSatisfactionandRetention

Anotherbenefitofadjustableworkenvironmentsisincreasedemployeesatisfactionandretention.Whenemployeesfeelthattheirneedsarebeingmetandthattheyhavecontrolovertheirworkenvironment,theyaremorelikelytobesatisfiedwiththeirjobsandstaywiththeiremployerlong-term. Adjustableworkenvironmentscanalsohelpaccommodateemployeeswithdisabilitiesorotherphysicallimitations.Forexample,employeeswhouseawheelchairmayrequirealowerdeskoradjustablekeyboardtraytobeabletoworkcomfortably.Byprovidingadjustablefurnitureandotheraccommodations,employerscancreateamoreinclusiveandwelcomingworkplace,whichcancontributetoincreasedemployeesatisfactionandretention.

IncreasedWorkplaceFlexibility

Finally,adjustableworkenvironmentscanalsocontributetoincreasedworkplaceflexibility.Manyemployeestodayarelookingformoreflexibilityintheirjobs,whetherit’stheabilitytoworkfromhomepart-timeortoadjusttheirworkscheduletofittheirpersonalneeds.Withadjustableworkenvironments,employerscanoffermoreflexibilityinthephysicalworkspace,allowingemployeestoadjusttheirworkspacetofittheirneedsandpreferences. Thisincreasedflexibilitycanalsohelpemployersattractandretaintoptalent.Inacompetitivejobmarket,offeringflexibleworkoptionscanmakeanemployerstandoutandhelpattractemployeeswhoarelookingforamorebalancedandpersonalizedworkexperience.

InConclusion

TheCOVID-19pandemichasforcedusalltoadaptquicklytonewwaysoflivingandworking,andhashighlightedtheneedforincreasedflexibilityandadaptabilityinourworkplaces.Adjustableworkenvironmentsofferasolutiontosomeofthechallengesthatemployeesfaceinthetraditionalofficeenvironment,andcanleadtoincreasedcomfort,productivity,andsatisfactionforemployees.Astheworkplacecontinuestoevolve,adjustableworkenvironmentswillbeanimportantfactorincreatingamorewelcoming,inclusive,andflexibleworkplaceforall.