Back-to-Office Morale: How Office Refurbishment Can Help

As the pandemic becomes a distant memory, more companies plan to re-establish in-office work. Among them, Amazon, the retail giant, has announced plans to bring staff back to the office five days a week by 2025, ending its hybrid work policy.

As the largest employer to commit to full-time, in-office work this year, Amazon’s decision will impact workplace trends, potentially signaling companies to follow suit.

But how do companies encourage employees to come back to the office? Our experience, as a trusted office refurbishment company, tells us that a mindful, empathy-driven office refurbishment helps! Read on to learn more.

How Office Refurbishment Companies Make In-Office Work Better

Most businesses are looking to go back to the office full-time to re-establish collaboration, connectedness, and productivity among employees. An office refurbishment or ‘office make-over’ puts the business in a good position to achieve all of these – while also boosting employee morale regarding this change.

Ways to Boost Employee Morale with Mindful Office Refurbishment

As with any endeavour, it’s important to have a good strategy in place. Here are some ideas to consider for your back-to-office makeover.

1. Start with Empathy

For most businesses, there will be push-back when it comes to returning to in-office work full-time –the question is WHY? Could an unoptimised office layout, dull colours, and crammed spaces be contributing factors?

Office refurbishment companies have the solution with empathy-driven design which ensures that each space is tailored to fit their users (the employees) — and thereby promote productivity and satisfaction.

2. Plan Out Collaborative Spaces & Breakout Rooms

When planning an office refurbishment or fit-out, plan out which spaces are for team collaboration and which ones are for downtime and breakout sessions.

Collaborative spaces or areas for brainstorming, are open spaces that come complete with comfortable seating and writable surfaces.

Meanwhile, designated breakout rooms are relaxed areas for informal meetings and downtime. A well-designed breakout room allows employees to do deep work, finetune their focus on challenging tasks, or have casual meetings in a calm setting.

3. Consider Setting Up Wellness Rooms

Wellness rooms are spaces for quiet retreats, relaxation, meditation, or short naps. These can help employees recharge during busy workdays. By adding wellness rooms to your office refurbishment plan, you promote employee well-being and mental health.

4. Flexible Workstations

Adjustable desks, multi-usage furniture, and charging ports are just a few inclusive options that offer a friendly, flexible workspace for employees. When in doubt about what adjustments to make, ask your employees!

Adding flexible workstations during office refurbishment allows you to accommodate many different work styles, thus helping employees feel right at home.

5. Maximise the Impact of Colour Psychology

Human mood and decision-making can be affected by colours. By maximising the impact of colour psychology in your office refurbishment or fit-out, you can drastically enhance mood, creativity, and productivity, thus making the office a great place to be in!

Calming blues, energising yellow, or stimulating greens should be aligned to the function of a space or room. By thoughtfully picking the right colours you can create spaces that reduce stress and motivate your employees in their work environment.

6. Try Adding Elements of Biophilic Design

Biophilic design incorporates natural elements into the work environment. Adding natural elements such as plants, wood textures and natural lighting boosts well-being, reduces stress, and improves the quality of air, creating a calm atmosphere in the workspace.

By bringing nature into the workplace. You create a healthier environment that nurtures the body and mind, enhancing focus and creativity.

7. Have the Right Acoustic Solutions

Having the right acoustic solutions in your office refurbishment is essential for creating a productive work environment where employees can work without disruption. This allows employees to concentrate and communicate better.

Consider incorporating acoustic solutions in certain areas, such as sound-absorbing materials, quiet spaces, booths, and even ambient noises.

8. Upgraded Amenities

Upgrading office amenities during office refurbishment can increase employee satisfaction. Improvements to the kitchen and break areas will provide employees with comfortable spaces to recharge and socialise.

Try adding better appliances, coffee stations or even healthier snack options as well as charging stations to improve convenience and show employees they are valued.

9. Fun Fixtures

Elements of fun can bring out a sense of calmness and creativity. By incorporating playful fixtures in your office refurbishment, you add a creative touch to the workspace.

Consider adding unique lighting fixtures, quirky furniture (e.g. bean bags, swings), and interactive elements (e.g. chalkboard walls or gaming stations in the break rooms). These not only enhance the aesthetic of the workspace but also create a lively work environment that your employees will love.

Opus4 Office Refurbishment & Fit-Out Specialists: Make Your Office THE Place to Be

Whether you are starting with a bare space or looking to upgrade your existing office, Opus-4 is the UK office refurbishment company that you can rely on. Our experienced refurbishment and fit-out specialists deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end service, from concept to construction. We employ innovative, forward-thinking design concepts to make your office an inspiring and engaging place to be.

Curious about how we can upgrade your workspace? View our portfolio of past projects – or contact us today to get personalised recommendations!