Employee motivation: How the office decor can affect productivity

Date: 11/07/2012

According to a study in Scientific Journals, there are five major factors that can affect productivity. These are furniture, noise, lighting, temperature and spatial arrangements.

One company that certainly knows how to get the best from its employees is Facebook.

Working for a multibillion dollar company certainly has its benefits.

After a recent revamp the new Facebook office, located in Menlo Park, Silicon Valley, sounds like the perfect office. The enormous complex boasts two cafeterias that provide three free meals a day for employees, hand-painted murals, chalkboards with pop up illustrations and an arcade. Employees can also take advantage of free massages, a complimentary laundry service and an onsite gym.

The open plan office also includes micro kitchens with free snacks and ‘cozies’- areas with sofas for employees to relax.

This office is also eco-friendly, using only recycled doors throughout the 1,000,000 sq ft campus.

Facebook’s Menlo Park address combines the practical with the fun. Employees are encouraged to personalise their own desks and are provided with their own chalk to encourage creativity through the chalk boards in each area.

Whilst your budget may not stretch to providing your employees with three free meals a day, there are small and relatively cheap changes that can be made around the office in order to boost productivity.

Ensuring there is adequate lighting around the office, both natural and artificial. Open blinds and invest in some free-standing lamps if your office is somewhat on the dingy side.

For hot days, ensure that there are fans available to employees as regulating the temperature of the office has been proven to increase productivity. A water cooler is also a good addition to the office.

Encourage employees to personalise their desk or work area with photos. Facebook’s chalkboard idea is a fun and affordable way to brighten up an office space, allowing employees to personalise it in a way that can be easily transformed into something else.

Small changes can have big results and boost employee motivation.

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