Supporting staff with their work-life balance

WorkWell on April 4, 2025

In today’s evolving and hybrid workplace, supporting employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance cannot be overstated. As employers face growing demands for greater flexibility and well-being support, the challenge lies in designing environments that are not only productive but also sustainable for their people.

Flexible Working

Addressing this issue is not simply a moral imperative but a strategic one. According to a study by the CIPD, 71% of employees now consider flexible working essential when considering a new role. As a result, forward-thinking organisations are taking a fresh look at how work is done to meet these expectations while still delivering on business goals.

Flexible working arrangements are increasingly central to this approach. Offering employees the choice to work remotely, adopt flexible start and finish times, or explore compressed working weeks helps them better manage their responsibilities outside of work.

Research from the University of Warwick has shown that happy employees are up to 12% more productive, and flexibility plays a significant role in that happiness. Furthermore, companies that embrace flexible practices often see improvements in recruitment, retention, absenteeism, and financial performance.

Wellness

Alongside flexibility, the role of wellness programmes has grown significantly. Mental health support, access to counselling, and activities such as yoga or mindfulness sessions are now becoming workplace staples. These initiatives are not only beneficial for employees’ well-being but also for employers.

A 2022 Deloitte report found that poor mental health among employees costs UK employers up to £56 billion annually. Wellness programmes that tackle stress and promote better health can mitigate these losses, reducing burnout and fostering a more engaged workforce.

Technology

Technology is another essential tool in supporting balance. Time management applications, AI-powered automation and collaboration tools help employees streamline repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more meaningful work. Remote working technologies have also made it easier for staff to work flexibly, with a study by Owl Labs showing that 62% of employees felt more productive when working remotely.

The digital workplace must be carefully managed. Employers should communicate expectations around digital boundaries to ensure staff can genuinely switch off outside of working hours. Normalising ‘clocking off’ is vital to preventing digital burnout and protecting mental health.

Workplace Culture

Creating a supportive workplace culture remains one of the most enduring and effective strategies. Encouraging open dialogue, providing access to resources like employee assistance programmes, and showing genuine consideration for individual circumstances helps foster a sense of psychological safety and inclusion.

WorkWell Offices provides an example of how these principles can be embedded into the very infrastructure of a workplace. By designing flexible office spaces that prioritise wellness and collaboration, WorkWell also promotes an environment where employees can be both productive and comfortable. Their spaces include wellness rooms, breakout zones, ergonomic workstations, and onsite classes to improve mental and physical health. The holistic approach to workplace design reflects a broader commitment to supporting the well-being of the people who use their spaces, recognising that wellness is not a perk, but a necessity.

Finally, the importance of continuous review cannot be overlooked. Policies should be regularly assessed and adapted to employee feedback and changing societal norms. Recognition also plays a crucial role in reinforcing positive behaviours. Acknowledging teams or individuals who model good work-life balance sets a tone from the top that well-being matters.

Supporting employees to achieve a better balance is no longer a niche concern but a core business function. When organisations invest thoughtfully in flexible policies, workplace wellness, and inclusive cultures, they are investing in the resilience and future success of their workforce.

Growing or shrinking your office for your team

WorkWell on February 3, 2025

Here at WorkWell, we provide practical and flexible office solutions for members. Whether you’re welcoming 10 new employees or transitioning through downsizing, your office should adapt effortlessly to fit your needs. A flexible workspace is essential for businesses that want to stay agile and prepared for whatever comes next.

Downsizing or expanding:  How WorkWell supports you

Clients can establish a floor plan during the consultation process. This is typically done based on the usage requirements of the team. Members have regular contact with their account manager, who will work with them to ensure the office suits their needs.

Our approach to scaling is flexible, with the actions we take varying from member to member, if the existing office is able to be scaled up or down, it will be. However, if the business no longer fits their office, we will provide choices more suited to their business.

Optimising office space

Optimising office space ensures your team can thrive, whilst maintaining room for future growth or adjustments.

At WorkWell, we provide flexibility to suit a business’s adjusting needs. Our office spaces are effortlessly adapted to accommodate teams increasing or decreasing in size. Unlike traditional offices, which can require significant planning and investment, our spaces eliminate the hassle.

This means businesses don’t need to do the hard stuff, like planning floorplans and shifting or acquiring furnishings. Members simply need to discuss any changing needs with their account manager, and they can help configure the space.

Key considerations for office design

When designing your office space, consider that productivity thrives in well-designed offices. Here are some practical considerations to make:

  • Dedicated spaces, do you need or want different zones, i.e. for team collaboration?
  • Layout, what environment will your team thrive in? Would a group-based layout, open-plan design, or private cubicle work best?
  • Flexibility in design, having an easily adaptable space ensures you can make the necessary adaptations for changing team sizes.
  • Natural lighting, lighting is everything, striking a balance is a must. Bright and airy spaces can offer many benefits, but consider the layout as you don’t want the glare to impact employees’ ability to work.

Consider creating a scenario plan which outlines how the space could be adjusted to accommodate more, or less staff. Anticipating any adjustments before they happen, ensures a business is equipped to modify its office at a moment’s notice. Regularly reviewing how your space serves you every 3-6 months can help you anticipate any evolving needs.

Seating plans and room layout

One facet of office design is considering the practicalities and functions of the space. Staff are more likely to have low productivity if their computer screen has the sun glaring onto it. Mitigating any potential disruptors will allow you and your team to work effectively! To avoid the glare, you can position your desk perpendicular to a window at a couple of feet,

Take note of what does and doesn’t work for staff, if there are zones in the office being unused, see how you can make the most of that space. Identifying any challenges, weaknesses, and under-used areas will then allow you to craft a development and optimisation strategy.

Creating multi-purpose spaces can be particularly useful for traditional offices. At WorkWell, our members can access meeting rooms, board rooms, 1-2-1 booths, Zoom pods and outdoor seating. This means members can use their office as a dedicated space.

How it’s done at WorkWell

We supply our members with flexible contracts, which gives them the freedom and autonomy to adjust their office size This means members using our serviced offices, can rest assured that their office space is working for them and more importantly, focus on their actual work.

Members do not need to worry about acquiring additional furniture, whilst our offices come with desks and chairs and standard, bespoke furniture can be sourced to suit their business needs. Additionally, our ergonomic furnishing comes with plenty of storage solutions, providing members with practical spaces to work from.

We also offer storage lockers as a bolt-on, so members needing extra storage solutions have the option to include them within their contract. The secure and lockable storage lockers are ideal for keeping confidential information or office supplies too.