It’s hard to overstate the importance of making the most out of your space and how this can directly impact your employees. Working alongside our clients throughout their real-estate journey, we see their struggle to create a workspace that also engages employees and improves their work experience. It’s no wonder why – Mercer’s Global Talent Trends 2019 interviewed over 7,300 industry leaders and one of the biggest concerns noted was creating an engaging work experience, including a workspace that helps increase motivation in the workplace.

Creating an energizing space is as easy as listening to your employees and applying their feedback to your overall business model. Are you wondering what is in it for you? Well, research shows that happy employees means happy clients. Below, we have complied a list of five top tips for designing an employee-driven workplace and improving motivation in the workplace.

1. Make working remotely an option
   When it’s not essential for your employees to be in the office, say for training or a department meeting, give them the flexibility to work remotely to improve motivation in the workplace. Flexible work weeks shows your employees that you trust them and allows them to cut down on stresses like long commutes through heavy traffic. This also helps your company with hiring and keeping recent grads who expect these kinds of perks.
2. Continual learning
   Part of employee burnout stems from an employee feeling like there is nothing else left for them to learn. At least, nothing that interests them. Have conversations with your employees about what new technologies or software they would be interested in learning. Perhaps even consider training classes for something non-work related, like a wine tasting or ceramics.
3. Great workspaces with diverse uses
   Did you know that many organizations overestimate how much space they need and spend millions on space that goes unused? First, make sure you partner with a strategic location management company/integrated workplace management company that can correctly assess your space needs. Then, incorporate communal space into this design – like meeting rooms, study rooms or a game room. At Tango, when our training room is not in use, it also serves as the center for many spirited rounds of ping pong. Being able to provide this outlet for our employees is both a great stress reliever and community builder, and improves motivation in the workplace.
4. Utility is key
   Employees want a workplace that has three key characteristics: comfortable, inspiring and functional. Your workspace basics should work smoothly for new hires and current employees. Technology and equipment should be up to date, and furniture should encourage good health (standing desks should be universal in your office layout) and collaboration.
5. Perk things up
   Employees deserve more than free coffee and a lonely basket of granola bars in the break room to show them they are appreciated. Demonstrate that their hard work and successes by giving them fun perks that will make them feel valued. Complimentary gym memberships, healthy snack options and a bookshelf stocked with casual and work-related literature are a good place to start.

Maybe your organization isn’t quite up to speed on designing for an employee-focused workspace – that is quite alright! Transforming your office into a thriving hub takes time and your whole team onboard. Loop in your managers and colleagues and present them with the research-based evidence for a carefully crafted employee space to increase motivation in the workplace.

As the market leader in strategic location management and IWMS, we help organizations manage all real estate and facilities related requirements from a single-end-to-end solution. To learn more about Tango’s Next Generation IWMS solution, download the brochure.