Wellness is a hot topic in workplace design. This means providing:

High-quality light (even natural light)
Drinking water
Excercise facilities
Recreation and social engagement spaces
Health care services.

In 2012 over 90% of organisations were already providing employee wellness programs, and it is a trend that will continue to rise in importance as organisations compete for the best people. A Colliers survey revealed that over 85% of organisations place wellness at the top of their employee initiatives due to employee demand and competition with peers.

On average, employee wellness programs generate returns of about 3 to 1. This can lead to:

Lowered medical costs
Increased productivity
Reduced absenteeism
Lower rates of staff turnover
Less employee stress

Trudy Cheng, the associate director of workplace strategy & change management at Colliers International has written a fantastic article about creating a workplace that makes people healthier. Read the full article here.