Surprising Factors That Influence Employee Performance

When choosing an office space to rent, it can be easy to focus on key factors such as location and cost, both of which will have a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of your business. However, it is crucial to also take into consideration any factors that will influence employee performance, after all, nothing affects business success more than the quality, quantity and efficiency of your team’s work.

Your office space will have more of an impact than you may initially realise on your employees’ daily performance, not to mention other important elements such as; employee engagement, productivity, motivation, performance and retention too. If you’re curious about which factors in your serviced office are impacting employee performance, keep reading today.

The temperature in the office

If your workspace is too hot or too cold, it will influence your team’s work. The temperature in your serviced office can be a huge distraction and ensuring that your employees are comfortable is essential to them performing to the best of their ability. The temperature in your office is actually covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. This Approved Code of Practice places a legal obligation on all employers to ensure the workplace is kept at a ‘reasonable’ temperature. Ideally, you should have a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in your serviced office. This is the easiest way to make sure that your team is comfortable all year round and that you’re maintaining good air quality too.

The lighting in the office

How well lit your office space is will always impact employee performance and in order to ensure your team is able to complete their tasks both safely and efficiently, your office needs to have adequate lighting. Flooding your serviced office with natural light is really advantageous and there are several health and wellbeing benefits associated with natural night. However, it’s likely that you will also require artificial lighting to ensure there aren’t any dark spots in your workspace. You do need to be careful with the artificial lighting you install though as harsh lighting can cause migraines and result in increased absences. The right type of lighting can help to reduce fatigue, boost mood and enhance motivation, so it really is key.

The noise in the office

It isn’t uncommon for offices to be reasonably noisy places and employees will quickly get used to hearing people typing on keyboards, talking on the phone or using pieces of equipment. However, if your serviced office is too noisy, this can be detrimental to performance. Noise pollution can have a direct effect on employee concentration and productivity, and not only can noise be distracting, but it can also be draining and cause employees to dislike working in your serviced office. Always think about noise when you’re planning your office layout and consider how the placement of your workstations will affect your team’s performance.

If you’re keen to have an open-plan office, it’s worthwhile checking that you can use on-site meeting rooms or phone booths during the day. These private spaces will be useful when your employees need to work somewhere quiet and free from background office noise.

The office layout

Not only will your office layout affect how noisy your workplace is, influencing employee performance, but it can also impact a number of other factors that will also affect how well your team works. Ideally, your workstations should be arranged so that your employees can conveniently move around your office space. Not to mention, your team should easily be able to access all of the everyday essentials they require too. You may want to consider creating different zones in your private office as well, such as; collaborative working zones, concentration zones and social zones.

The cleanliness of the office

Whether or not your serviced office is kept clean and tidy will also affect your team’s ability to do their jobs. Having a cluttered and messy work environment can negatively impact mental health, causing your employees to feel stressed and anxious, and disorganisation can reduce their ability to focus on their work responsibilities. An unclean office can also cause frustration amongst your employees, resulting in them being less motivated and unsatisfied with their job. To prevent any issues in regards to tidiness and cleanliness, it’s important to make sure you have enough storage space in your serviced office and it is also beneficial to arrange daily professional office cleaning.

The furniture in the office

Your team will spend several hours a day sitting at their desk. In order for them to be able to continue performing at the same high level all day, you need to invest in the right furniture. Spending a bit more on ergonomic furniture can help to ensure your employees are comfortable during the working day and that they’re not suffering from common aches and pains. When they’re comfortable, they will find it easier to stay focused too and they will be more productive. It may be advantageous to have a breakout area with sofas for your team to use during their breaks as well, this will enable them to relax and recharge during the working day.

The office dress code

Whilst this isn’t necessarily part of your office space, it is important to note that the dress code you implement will also affect how your team performs whilst working from your serviced office. After conducting many studies, cognitive psychologists Hajo Adam and Adam Galinksy from Northwestern University found that clothing can affect psychological states, as well as performance levels. If you allow your employees to wear casual clothing in the office, this can make them less productive. However, it is key to ensure smart clothing won’t restrict their capabilities to complete their daily tasks. So, consider which dress code would be most suitable for your employees when they come into the office.

Renting a new serviced office in Farringdon

If you’re trying to find a new serviced office in the Farringdon area that can help you to boost employee performance, be sure to explore the rest of the One Avenue website. We have a number of flexible office spaces available to rent throughout London and all of our design-led managed offices can help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your team. At One Avenue, we pride ourselves on our office buildings being a breath of fresh air and we guarantee an unforgettable first impression for anyone who walks in. It’s worth noting that all of our office spaces in Farringdon can be customised to enhance the workplace experience too and our team will work closely with you to make sure your new serviced office is perfect for your culture.