The term “sustainability” has many definitions; almost every organisation involved in sustainable practices has its version of the term and a unique working mission statement. Determining whether environmentally friendly planning and design increase worker productivity is crucial. If so, which projects, how much are they spending, what categories are they focusing on, and how much impact do they have on productivity?
Human resource managers must commit to sustainability in their strategic planning, decision-making, and day-to-day operations in the years ahead. Sustainable design and changes may increase general welfare and productivity in the workspace. Thorough. Understanding what constitutes sustainability is necessary to evaluate the effect of sustainability on productivity.
Embracing sustainability as a key factor
A greener workplace adopts a thorough and integrated strategy to enhance employee engagement and the working environment and minimise environmental effects. One of the many aspects of a company that sustainability at work may affect is employee productivity. Specialists in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and other environmentally conscious designers claim that sustainability has several helpful aspects in the workplace.
The office setting, one’s sense of value as an employee, and the desire to work better in a healthier, thoughtful arrangement where one may reflect, unwind, and produce and discuss innovative thoughts are the main factors that come up when discussing employee engagement and satisfaction in any workplace.
According to government studies, Green building rating systems, “greening your workplace” manuals, and other research must be used to determine which initiatives are common and advised, increasing employee productivity, reducing sick days, and improving tenant satisfaction in buildings.
What’s more, certain types of management software may be better equipped at combining the best parts of sustainability and engagement. For example, you should consider enhancing employee engagement with these tools and adopting a program that rewards employees for participating in more green initiatives.
Thinking outside the box: a necessity move | Sustainability in the workplace
In many instances, sustainable projects and buildings have had a small to a major positive impact on occupant contentment, attendance, and productivity, according to researchers that have looked into this subject. Yet, lower satisfaction ratings for lighting and acoustics are normal because open floor plans are common in sustainable office designs. Also, it is encouraged to “think outside the box” and find creative solutions that address the needs and conditions of the company.
Most employees can grasp the value of incorporating sustainable means of the design if they have ever worked in a dark, enclosed space with no windows or natural light and questioned why they felt demotivated. When one works in an office, their mind-body systems are affected:
- The physical
- The psychological
- Cognitive processes
One must understand the value of employees and their workspace dynamics. Most occupations demand them to work from an office, meaning they must be present in the offered setting for a minimum of 6-8 hours every day. Various studies and research have shown that being in a natural setting has positive effects and enhances productivity. Although it is not a new concept in the domains of design and architecture, it has just begun to appear in everyday settings and on social media how vital it is to have a space with sufficient ventilation, natural light, and some sort of refreshment to concentrate, imagine, and perform.
Organising and maintaining a productive workplace
An approach for enhancing the strategies used to set up and keep a structured, productive workplace can contribute to improving workplace quality, waste reduction, and efficiency. Everyone has a responsibility to fight against climate change, but collective actions in huge institutions and corporations can accomplish a lot more by transforming their corporate practices.
An organisation’s success mainly depends on how well it maximises its employees’ productivity and creative ability by offering all necessary support. Across the world, organisations are taking significant steps to protect the environment and make their workplaces sustainable. As designers, we always consider circulation, ventilation, natural lighting, accessibility, and a final layout that may make the users feel at ease, creating an inclusive atmosphere that fosters interpersonal interactions in any given place.
Many factors, including job position, outside distractions, health, lack of focus, level of participation, conversation, collaboration, stress level, mood, sense of responsibility, well-being, purpose, and the management structure in place, can affect employee engagement and satisfaction. Because of this, the organisation’s overall effectiveness can be determined by how they prioritise the tasks in their immediate environment, such as the hiring process, finding solutions to problems, or motivating follow-through.
The impact of these factors on productivity varies from one business to another, but it can be challenging to gauge how much of an impact they have. Companies with strategies for striving for a better future for their employees and the environment as a whole typically recognise that this is a gradual process with long-term advantages. With this information, businesses may be persuaded to adopt sustainability solely to boost output. Still, a commitment to sustainability at work should go beyond structural modifications or sentiments. Meaningful dedication to sustainability will enable workers to embrace it, and it will serve to holistically improve the workplace via dignity, comfort, teamwork, creativity, and common responsibility.
References :
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Barrera, A. (2021) 5 sustainable practices you can implement in the Workplace, B The Impact. B The Impact. Available at: https://www.btheimpact.net/post/5-sustainable-workplace-practices (Accessed: April 3, 2023).
Sustainability initiatives in the workplace and employee … – opensiuc (no date). Available at: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1586&context=gs_rp&httpsredir=1 (Accessed: April 3, 2023).
4 companies working to protect the planet with bold initiatives (no date) Global Citizen. Available at: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/companies-sustainable-environmental-initiatives/?gclid=CjwKCAiAwomeBhBWEiwAM43YIE-YT8gbazb5p-5vrNrDYdtp4RTEou59mGb6rm3Q3OTYAVBHjVlBQRoCEpYQAvD_BwE (Accessed: April 3, 2023).
Barbulianno (2020) Meaning of biophilic design and where it all begun, Barbulianno Design. Barbulianno Design. Available at: https://www.barbuliannodesign.com/post/biophilic-design-meaning-connecting-nature-improve-wellbeing (Accessed: April 4, 2023).
