Wellbeing Adventures
Investing in a dedicated space or room can yield substantial benefits for both workers and the organisation for wellbeing. From reduced absenteeism to enhanced productivity and worker satisfaction, the returns can be significant.
By creating a dedicated space for wellbeing activities, you demonstrate a commitment to your worker’s health, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Benefits and ROI
1. Improved Worker Health and Reduced Absenteeism:
Dedicated spaces for wellbeing such as a specific room contribute to better physical and mental health.
2. Enhanced Productivity and Focus:
Dedicated spaces for wellbeing provides a space for workers to recharge, leading to increased productivity.
3. Better Worker Retention and Satisfaction:
Providing facilities can enhance job satisfaction and reduce turnover. A study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) showed that companies with wellness programs had a 9% higher employee retention rate.
4. Positive Workplace Culture:
Investing in worker wellbeing fosters a supportive and caring workplace culture. Google’s wellness initiatives have contributed to high levels of employee satisfaction and made it a desirable place to work.
What Not to Do: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Designing dedicated spaces for wellbeing involves careful planning to ensure it serves its purpose effectively.
Avoiding these pitfalls involves careful planning and consideration of worker needs. Ensuring soundproofing, proper ventilation, and adequate maintenance, while avoiding overcrowding and conflicting activities, will help create a successful wellness room. Seeking worker input is crucial to ensure the space meets their expectations and needs.
By learning from these real-life examples of what not to do, you can design dedicated spaces that genuinely enhance wellbeing and productivity.
Here are some things to avoid, with real-life examples of how “wellness” rooms can go wrong:
1. Combining Conflicting Activities
Pitfall: Mixing activities that require different environments can lead to an ineffective wellness room.
Example: A company created a wellness room that combined a meditation space with a game area. The noise from the games disrupted the quiet needed for meditation, resulting in frustration rather than relaxation for employees.
2. Inadequate Soundproofing
Pitfall: Neglecting soundproofing can lead to distractions, negating the room’s purpose.
Example: An organisation placed their wellness room next to a busy conference room without adequate soundproofing. Employees could hear meetings and phone calls, making it difficult to relax and recharge.
3. Poor Ventilation and Lighting
Pitfall: Failing to ensure proper ventilation and lighting can make the space uncomfortable and unwelcoming.
Example: A wellness room with no windows and poor air circulation quickly became stuffy and dim, discouraging employees from using it. Proper lighting and ventilation are crucial for creating a refreshing environment.
4. Overcrowding the Space
Pitfall: Filling the room with too much furniture or equipment can make it feel cramped and uninviting.
Example: A company tried to include too many elements in their wellness room, like large exercise machines, a reading corner, and a seating area. The cluttered space felt overwhelming and was rarely used by employees.
5. Neglecting Maintenance
Pitfall: Ignoring regular upkeep can lead to a rundown, unappealing space.
Example: An organization set up a wellness room but did not allocate resources for its maintenance. Over time, the room became dirty, plants wilted, and equipment broke down, making it an unappealing place.
6. Lack of Privacy
Pitfall: Creating a space without privacy can deter employees from using it.
Example: A wellness room with glass walls or inadequate separation from the main office area can make workers feel self-conscious and unwilling to use the space for relaxation or personal activities.
7. Ignoring Worker Input
Pitfall: Designing a wellness room without considering employee needs and preferences can lead to low utilization.
Example: A company designed a wellness room based on management’s assumptions rather than employee feedback. As a result, the room included features that were not aligned with what workers actually wanted or needed, leading to low engagement and usage.