by Brian McKay
If you’re looking for an effective way of improving the culture at your business and improving your employees’ wellbeing, then you could do a lot worse than to give them some outdoor space.
Outdoor space is expensive why would I want to do that? Because studies have shown that when employees exchange the dullness of the office and spend time outdoors in the fresh air, their productivity increases, as do their relationships ta home and work.
Being outdoors is healthy, especially during the working day, so check out these tips for giving your employees good outdoor spaces if you have the space to spare:
Landscape the Space
Obviously, it goes without saying that no matter how much or little space you have around your building, you’re going to need to call in a landscaper to rip up the concrete and plant trees, lay lawn, install pretty architectural columns and do whatever else it takes to make the space more pleasant. This should go without saying, so on to a few other practicalities...
Invest in Flexible Seating
When it comes to workplace outdoor spaces, flexible seating options such as moveable benches and aluminium tables and chairs are best. Why? Because you can change things around depending on whether you’re holding a big group meeting out there or you’re just relaxing on your lunch break looking for solitude.
Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal
If you’re going to let your employees work outdoors when the weather is good, then you need to ensure that you can get a decent internet signal out there. If you can’t do that at present, then investing in a Wi-Fi strength booster is a good way to do that without spending a fortune.
Safe Electrical Outlets
Of course, Wi-Fi isn’t the only thing you’re going to need - you’ll need to have access to electricity out there too, so make sure that you hire a reputable electrician to install enough electrical outlets to keep things going.
Create Privacy with Plants
You won’t have any cubicles to give your employees when they’re working outdoors, so create some by strategically planting shrubs and bushes that will give a modicum of privacy, at least. Of course, you’ll also want to ensure that you have at least one big open space for meetings, get-togethers and the like.
Patios or Decking
Providing a patio or area of decking will give your staff somewhere nice to sit when they have lunch or go on a break, and you should encourage them to go outdoors at these times because it will do them the world of good!
Go Up on the Roof
At this point, I'm going to suggest that those of you who don’t have any outdoor space available, but who do have access to the roof, landscape that instead, using the same tips as above where possible. Fresh air is fresh air and being up on the roof has the added benefit of better views a lot of the time!
Enjoy your outdoor space - your employees sure will!
