It doesn’t feel that long ago that I remember going with my mom to the office for a “bring your child to work” day. I remember walking through the isles of gray cubicles set under dim yellow-ish fluorescent lights, filled with women wearing high heels and men wearing suits and ties, all the while wondering what that stale smell was. I remember asking myself: “Is this what I had to look forward to?” Fortunately, I lucked out.
Fast forward to 2019, more and more offices seem to be changing for the better. Picture Google’s headquarters, for example. Open workspaces, casual attire, game rooms and even quiet places to nap are quickly becoming the norm. However, while many people might be quick to jump on millenials for this type of radical change, we actually have tech companies from the 1980’s to thank. Businesses like Apple were more focused on getting results rather than following the old processes it took to get there, which fueled a new wave of casual work attire that has now evolved into casual work environments. So, how does a casual work environment encourage employee productivity? Here are 4 ways:
#1. Restrictive work places restrict creativity
For many people, their job requires them to be creative in some way or another. Whether they’re writing blog posts, programming an app, trying to craft the perfect email response to a potential customer, or even finding innovative ways to deal with angry customers – creative restrictions can seriously hinder an employee’s performance.
As a business owner, you don’t necessarily have to create the most casual work environment or spend tons of money on having a game room to help boost your employees’ productivity. Here are some tips that are low-cost and easy:
#2. Employees feel less burnt out
While it may seem like casual work environments can lead to laziness and employees slacking off, it’s quite the opposite. When employees have the freedom to wear what they want and not feel confined to a stuffy office, they’re less likely to feel burnt out day in and day out, which leads to a better work performance overall.
Additionally, business owners that encourage a casual work environment typically have better relationships with their employees. Great office relationships help reduce turnover rates, help increase the overall team bond and can help encourage staff members to work harder as they actually care about the work they are doing, and who they are doing it for.
#3. Casual offices are more stimulating
Gray walls, gray cubicles, and gray everything embodies the perfect recipe for a gray mindset. If you want your employees to feel energized and motivated to work hard and produce genuine results, they need to stop living in a black and white world and get away from the everyday humdrum of a mundane office environment. Here are some ways to help stimulate your employees:
#4. Going to work doesn’t feel like a chore
No matter how much you love your job, it’s still a job and can sometimes feel like trudging through mud. However, when your job is set in a casual environment as opposed to a standard boring office, it feels less like something you have to do, and more like something you want to do. For example, my office is incredibly laid back and for that I am thankful. Is every day easy? No, but I also don’t dread coming to work. I look forward to what the day will bring, because every day is different.
