With the kids off school and Easter egg hunts to organise, it’s easy for work-based tasks to go off trail during the Easter holidays. Working flexibly and remotely can give your team’s productivity levels a much-needed boost during Easter. As can having access to high-speed Wi-Fi and other quality office infrastructure.
Don’t let the fun and distraction of Eastertime have negative repercussions on your business with the following five ways to remain productive at working during the Easter break.
The new space is designed for and focused on employee productivity and well-being; offering different work stations and open space alongside natural light and materials straight from nature. Our hope is that the space promotes success and growth for any business that makes use of it. Unlike many Serviced Office chains we are a family-run business that offers true value as well as a great environment to any company choosing to house their company here; the space you see below is free of charge to use for any of our residents and their visitors.
Being in a queue for 40 minutes on the commute to work can mean we’re stressed out before we even arrive in the office! As can being unable to find a carparking space. Working in an office that’s void of the stresses and strains that are all but synonymous with many offices, can have a significantly positive impact on work-based productivity, ultimately improving a business’s bottom line.
Take a look at the top workplace features that are known to reduce stress, which has a positive affect on staff morale, productivity and the overall success of an organisation.
Great news for businesses and entrepreneurs based in Leeds – new research reveals Leeds is the second-highest scoring city in the North where entrepreneurs are the most likely to succeed.
Businesses of all sizes and industries have a responsibility to carry out environmentally-friendly practices. In order to meet environmental targets, the government is urging businesses to become greener and show Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“CSR is an important way of demonstrating consideration of social, economic and environmental impacts, and can lead to an increased competitive advantage, increase reputation and build consumer and stakeholder trust.”
As well as helping businesses be seen in a more responsible light, green offices help give workers a wellbeing and productivity boost. With a little commitment, focus and creativity, offices can become significantly greener, to the benefit of the company as well as those who occupy the workspace.
Carrwood Park, which prides itself on being an eco-friendly office space, explores the benefits of making offices more sustainable and why it’s time to move your business into greener workspace.
Recycling
Recycling is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways for offices to become more sustainable and show CSR. As recycling targets for UK businesses are 75% by 2020, it stands to reason, recycling should be high on the list of priorities for businesses.
By simply placing recycling containers or bins in the office space that specifically cater for different types of waste, such as plastics, paper and food, can save a business a lot of money by cutting disposal costs and receiving a monetary rebate by recycling secondary materials.
But above all, disposing of office waste responsibly, make a big difference to the environment, reducing the amount of waste that gets sent to the landfill and the number of toxins that make their way into ecosystems.
LED lighting
Switching to LED lighting in the office comes with a myriad of benefits. Not only does this more efficient type of lighting reduce the energy usage of the office by up to 80%, but it can also have a more positive affect on the mood and wellbeing of people working in the office.
Studies show that using LED lighting in a working environment instead of conventional lightbulbs, provides a healthier and more productive working environment, positive affecting mood, vitality and performance, and increasing productivity by at least 3%.
Greenery in the office
Introducing plants into the office shows positive, green practices, which, again, can bring both psychological and physical benefits to occupants of the office. One study found that having plants in the office can reduce anxiety and tension by 37%, depression by 58%, anger and hostility by 44% and fatigue by 38%.
As well as the many psychological benefits of bringing nature inside in a working environment, green features make a stylish addition to the office, injecting some colour and life into the work space.
Become a haven for wildlife
Environmental efforts can even result in office space becoming a haven for wildlife. For example, Carrwood Park, which was originally built on farmland and prides itself at being ‘at one’ with nature, is home to two pairs of nesting red kites!
If 2025 comes with aspirations for your business to become more corporately responsible and give your team a wellbeing and productivity boost in the process, you may want to consider moving into environmentally-friendly office space at WorkWell.
Marking the most romantic day of the year in the office can be fun and harmless. However, go too far and you could end up blushing like a tomato every time you walk into the office for the rest of the year! If you are thinking about celebrating Valentine’s Day at work, check out these essential Valentine’s Day in the office dos and don’ts.
Do you know where your business will be in three or five years? While we all dream of running a prospering business, which expands year-in-year-out, nobody has a crystal ball, and as the UK’s economy remains shaky and unpredictable, for many businesses, growth remains precarious and undetermined.
Given this volatile business environment, moving into flexible office space opposed to committing to a lengthy three or five-year contract, can be a wise business move.
Flexible office space is in high demand.
The demand for flexible office space is on the rise. According to Instant’s 2017 Flexible Workspace Report, the total provision for all flexible office space increased globally by around 18% in 2016. Coworking and hybrid spaces have almost doubled since 2013, which now accounts for approximately a third of flexible workspaces globally. The report also found that larger corporate and enterprise organisations are joining in the uptake of flexible office space.
A separate report reiterates the growing demand for flexible workspace, highlighting how between 2011 and 2013, Britain’s serviced office market increased by 13.3%.
Caters for growth fluctuations
One of the principal benefits and attractions of flexible office space, in which businesses can walk in and out of without any contract or commitment, is that it complements the fluctuations that inevitably occur within business growth.
For example, no matter how solid a business plan may appear that maps out consistent annual growth, no business can ‘growth-proof’ their venture, particularly from external elements, namely the economy and political ‘surprises’ such as Brexit.
A business may be confident it will grow in forthcoming months and years, having to expand its team from, for example, a five to a ten-person outfit, thus needing a larger office. However, as unpredictable and often external factors bite, such growth may never materialise and, instead of growth, a business may experience regression, being forced to make redundancies and reduce its team.
No longer, legally binding contracts
This is why opting for flexible office space that doesn’t tie companies into long, costly contracts that they can’t get out of is favourable. Unlike the costs associated with leasing office space, such as refurbishing the workspace and equipping it with office furniture and an IT infrastructure, serviced offices are ready to move into and require no other costs or investments.
With meeting rooms, executive suites, modern and fully-equipped open-plan office space, breakout rooms and the choice of working in more private areas at their disposal, businesses can upsize or downsize at their leisure in flexible office space.
As we noted in a previous blog about the benefits of serviced offices, opting for more flexible workspace with short-term rental agreements gives businesses of all sizes flexibility without committing to a legally binding and lengthy office lease.
Boosting business credibility
Serviced offices also often come with a high-profile business address, which can give a business’s credibility and professionalism a huge boost. From handing out business cards with the esteemed address boldly printed on the front to inviting potential clients to a meeting in a sought-after location, flexible serviced office space can play a vital role in contributing to business growth and success.
If part of your business plan in 2018 is to grow and expand your team, locating in a quality, credible and flexible serviced office space, can be the perfect solution for nurturing business growth and success without running the risk of business not going well as expected and your company having to take the hit as you need to downgrade office space.
If you’re looking for top-quality flexible office space in a convenient location not far from Leeds City Centre or Harrogate, get in touch with us here at WorkWell. Our friendly team will be more than pleased to show you around our high-quality serviced office spaces designed to cater for the fluctuations that inevitably arise when running a business.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can play a bigger role in mental health and wellbeing in the workplace than you may realise.
SAD is a recognised mental health disorder which can cause depressive symptoms, and some people find that their mood and energy levels more affected by changes in the seasons than others.
Nurturing an environment where teams feel comfortable talking about and supporting their own wellbeing, both mental and physical, is a key part of developing an effective and resilient team.
As teams continue to adapt to different ways of working, building strong foundations for workplace wellbeing will encourage a supportive, connected and collaborative environment where teams can thrive.
Here are five tips to help you get started on how to actively support your team’s wellbeing:
1. Promote a good work-life balance
Members should encourage taking breaks between work. Within the working day, it can be easy to slip into a cycle of working and forgetting to take breaks away from the desk. Members at WorkWell benefit from exclusive access to the grounds surrounding the offices, and what better way to spend your lunch break or a phone call than in the fresh air and making the most of nature around us. It’s important you look after your own well-being so you can also be there to support your team.
2. Regular team check-ins
Have regular check-ins with colleagues to gauge how they’re feeling, and be sure to share how you are doing too. Whether it’s a virtual conversation or escaping the office for a more private option using a bookable space at WorkWell or pods, make sure these regular check-ins are scheduled to monitor stress and how you can support your teams.
3. Consider your work environment
The environment plays an important part in attracting, retaining, and promoting a healthy workforce. WorkWell provides a carefully designed space to maximise team potential for both collaborative and independent working. Consider how you use your working space. Does it offer a blend of focus and collaboration, comfort, and inspiration to boost the outcomes of your team?
4. Introduce a wellness plan
Open communication is a huge factor in promoting well-being in the workplace. It’s not always about practical elements – giving someone a safe space to open up about how they’re feeling can go a long way in developing a stronger team. This can be implemented through wellness plans, which are designed on an individual basis to understand any challenges or considerations for colleagues. They can be kept up to date by colleagues as part of 1-1s, and having them integrated in your team’s processes shows the value placed on your team’s wellbeing, working with individuals to develop them, while creating a safe environment for growth and learning.
5. Adopt a mindfulness approach
According to a study carried out by Be Mindful, mindfulness is proven to improve mental wellbeing. A technique which promotes calmness, a practice of staying present in the moment, with greater focus on any current task. Mindfulness can be a conscious practice through pausing and deep breathing, or alternatively, can be done during everyday moments, such as making a cup of coffee or waiting for your document to print. Bringing your attention to the present moment helps with concentration, managing stress levels and means you can make more informed and strategic decisions.
How are you currently working with your teams to support wellbeing in the workplace? Share your suggestions with the WorkWell team over on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram.
In March of this year, businesses across the globe were thrown into a new way of working. Many who had never even considered remote working before were forced into sending their staff, who were able to, home to work for the foreseeable, many pushing it through without a plan or strategy in place and therefore no metrics to measure its success.
