Wellbeing, Wellness & Workplace
The blog below was written way before the current Covid19 crisis. It is not that the information is not valuable anymore, but if you require advice for the current (May 2020) situation, we would advice you to check the folowing:
Wellness is now BIG business! It moves you one step closer to a new, and better you - a you that drinks green juices and rids your body of all lingering toxins, a you that enrolls into spin classes before 6 am and has more energy as a result, a you that plugs into head space every evening to calm the mind before your 8 hours of sleep.
For the past month at Amos Beech, wellness has been at the forefront within the office. By being provided with a conscious checklist, we've become more self-aware of our actions and routines within our lifestyle and how it affects us in the workplace.
Wellbeing & Wellness in the Workplace
Here are a few insights and examples that you can try to integrate into your workplace to get the Work/Life balance back on track:
Outside, Inside
Since our blog about Biophilia within the workplace, in 2017. We've all seen workplaces flourishing everywhere. But how about having greenery with a purpose? At Takahashi Hiroko, based in a former factory in Tokyo, redesigned by schemata includes an indoor garden with edible plants.
Fresh Foods
With your office-grown ingredients to hand, having healthy food options will fuel your employees and keep their cravings for sweet and fatty foods away. Even as simple as sharing good food at a decent table will work wonders for your firms' staff morale and community feel.
Workout While Working
Many Japanese corporations understood early on the importance of exercise for their employees. It grew out of their philosophy of kaizen, or “continual improvement.” They appreciated that a workout could make their employees healthier and more productive, therefore began to schedule exercise programs during work hours.
We suggest dedicating a bit of space to being 'multi-use' area, where a variety of exercise classes and wellness workshops could take place. Consider offering something different from the standard yoga, perhaps something that also encourages teamwork. But if space is limited, try getting your employer to take a step in the right direction by contributing towards a gym membership or cycle to work scheme.
Personalised Technology
In other news, Scotland's first development has been accredited with a Platinum WiredScore Certification at 177 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, to assure future occupiers with the best connectivity. We've seen more products beginning to appear that allow employees control over their surroundings, but also products that understand and adapt to the needs of the employees throughout the day.
Philips has installed a system of LED lights in an office in Prague that fluctuate to the circadian rhythms of employees from morning through to night. This ideal is reminiscent of the Endless House, a conceptual work of architecture by Frederick Kiesler in 1924; “endless like the human body—there is no beginning and no end to it.” In the future, we will see smart buildings understanding the needs and wants of the inhabitants and adapting seamlessly.
Healthy Workstations
Until that point, we've seen a rise in technology being incorporated into furniture items keeping employees staying connected with air-charging and USB points. These small details make life just that little bit easier on the most stressful of days. Even by giving employees a choice with their desking, implementing sit-stand desking is more comfortable and healthier for the body.
Art for All
The Sculptor Nick Hornby past artist-in-residence was in an unlikely location - the London headquarters of law firm Pinsent Masons. He brought lawyers to his studio and curated his artwork around the office.
The art can play a part in the culture of the workplace, representing a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. As well as being thought-provoking and sparking discussions with other staff members.
A Daily Pause
In Kiev, the Grammarly Office has a dedicated nap room that includes three sleeping blocks, with a weight sensor under the mattress that sends a signal to light with the indication of zZZ letters outside. The power of sleep and quiet reflection is becoming more commonly recognised as valuable, great opportunity to allow your mind and body to relax.
Happy Holidays
And we all know that a holiday is the best occasion to really relax and rebalance oneself. How about providing your employees with a 'wellbeing day' or have their birthday off on top of the standard holiday allowance to show your appreciation. Or go the extra mile, like FormRoom they are proud to offer a one month (fully paid) sabbatical for every 3 years your stay with their team. They reiterate the value of 'Let the company you work for, lift you up and push you forward; not drag you down or hold you back.'
Do you want to read more about how to improve your workplace? Check:
Blog and graphics by: Design Team
Publication date: August 14th, 2019
Working from home & social distancing in the office?
2020 has seen many of you now working from home due to these unprecedented times. Leaving the world of open-plan office behind….
Whilst for some, working from home is a welcome break from the daily commute and like the solitude and the peace to focus on work without distraction, others also like the social aspects of the office. We are social, we like the company of others, no more so than in the office. We thrive on discussion, exchanging ideas and collaborating, however now we have to bring what we have learnt from social distancing in our day to day life during the Covid19 lockdown into the office. Perhaps for some of us this will be the new normal – a balance between working from home and in the office.
Whether we can achieve this balance or whether we want or need to return to the office full time, we will need to feel as safe in the office as we do at home. How can we make that happen?
Working from home and returning to the office after the Covid19 lockdown
Now is the time to rethink the office, to ensure the workplace is productive and safe for staff and customers. Here at Amos Beech we were either working from home or have been furloughed just like most of you. However, the design and fit-out team have been thinking about short, medium and long term solutions for after the Covid19 lockdown, to help you with the preparation for staff returning to the office.
Office layout and occupancy levels
Social distancing in the office follows the same guidelines as out of the office – to avoid unnecessary closeness with others by allowing employees to remain 2m apart. This may mean reducing the number of employees in the office at any given time, so some of your staff need to continue working from home.
Assigned desk social distancing layout return to the office after Covid19 lockdown
To organise this the iotspot ESD desk booking system can be an outcome. The smart workplace platform can be utilised to help with social distancing in anticipation for people returning to work.
Screens between desks and office dividers
In the office we need to minimise disruption by using alternate desks with individuals not directly facing each other and introduce high clear perspex screens between the desks.
Samuel Bruce desk dividing perpex screen solutions
Contact the design team for help with your office layout:
Hygiene
In addition to the above, hygiene becomes even more important than it already was. You may for instance need to introduce a clear desk policy, allowing surfaces to be properly cleaned on a daily basis. Also introduce hand wash facilities in tea preps and break rooms and provide hand sanitisers throughout the office, especially at high touch point areas such as near printers, in tea prep and break out rooms, at lifts and entry and exit doors.
Hand sanitiser stations
NanoSeptic Antimicrobial Surface Wraps for Touchpoints
Contact the operations team for more details about hygiene products:
Returning to the office after the Covid 19 lockdown is very much work in progress
For us at Amos Beech the current situation is just as new for us as it is to you, but we are committed to help you return to the office in a safe and pleasant way. Our design team is keeping up to speed as much as possible by attending webinars of the world leading office specialists and operations follow all the latest developments from the office and facilities industry.
In addition to that we have taken the initiative to set up a sharing platform where all involved in the office interiors, facilities and fit-out sector can share ideas and solutions. We advise you to follow this initiative to keep up to date: