Below are some of Tall Architects favourite articles on a broad range of issues throughout February.
Wellness
Reduce stress at work and prevent burnout – a psychologist explains how
Burnout is described as an occupational phenomenon caused by improper management of workplace stress. It is commonplace in today’s society and it can reduce productivity by as much as 30%, and has a greater cost to employees than absenteeism.
Organisations must get proactive to support mental health in the workplace
A recent report found that 1 in 6 workers experience mental health issues. Anxiety and depression are thought to be the reason half of working days lost along with technology and contract work which leave people unable to disconnect from work. Proactive spending by companies to implement workplace health plans has been shown to have a 5:1 return on investment.
8 easy and low-cost workplace wellness ideas that actually make a difference
Wellness does not have to be expensive, there are a number of quick, easy solutions to practice workplace wellness. Providing a list of healthy dining options in a 2-mile radius can aid employees who struggle with diet and exercise, and enable them to maintain health despite eating out. Additionally, partnering with a café to provide discounts to employees would further encourage healthy eating in the workplace.
Flexible working
The economic and employee benefits of a flexible working environment
90% of staff aged 16-55 would like the flexibility to work anywhere at any time. Flexible working costs almost nothing for employers to implement, and results in fewer expenses, stress and anxiety for workers, along with greater work/life balance and lower commute times.
Flexible working can help mental wellbeing
Flexible working can aid employees during difficult life events and aid employee retention. 83% of 3,900 respondents in a survey found that efforts to improve mental health conflicted with work. Of the 2,100 respondents with mental illness, 84% believed a flexible job would help them manage their mental health better.
Flexible working: one in three undeterred by career damage
A survey of 1,000 respondents found that 1 in 3 would take any flexible working options made available to them, even if it hinders their career. 94% of respondents believed flexibility would benefit them, 43% cited less stress and improved mental wellbeing as the main advantage whilst 38% claimed it would improve integration between work and social life.
Flexible workspaces are quickly becoming a global practice. A Global Workplace Survey found 8 out of 10 employees would decline a job that had no option to choose or change workplace location. Flexible workspaces benefit multinational corporations by saving on expenses for workspaces, encourage networking and conversation, and attract the next generation of tech-savvy individuals.
Productivity
3 Simple strategies to boost the productivity of your key performers
The first technique is creating a to-do list, writing down the work that needs doing as our minds are so busy it can be easy to forget minor details. The technique of ‘Faxing It’ - means asking anyone who tries to give you a task verbally to write out exactly what they want you to do and send it as fax (or email). The 80/20 rule involves discerning which tasks are the most important and pooling greater effort into them.
How a strategic interior design affects well-being and productivity in the workplace.
Cubicle workplaces are dwindling and companies must now consider designing offices which are open plan, and promote human interaction so that more meaningful interactions occur within the workplace. Employees spend nearly 80% of their time indoors hence the importance of natural lighting which can positively affect moods and reduce depression.
Future of work
The future of work: The 4 mindsets of effective leadership in the digital age
“The idea of top-down leadership is a thing of the past or should be anyway. It’s not what people are looking for. Leadership needs to be democratized. Decision-making has to be more distributed so that every person feels it is his or her responsibility to lead because that is what will lead to speed, which is so important for business success today.”
Sustainability
Can flexible workspaces help businesses reduce their carbon footprint
Flexible workspaces are growing in popularity in the last decade as many companies unpack from a single headquarters in metropolitan areas. A new study finds that flexible workspace could reduce CO2 emissions globally by 2,560,000 metric tonnes. Having local offices will also save a reported average of 411,000 commuting days per annum by 2029.