You have probably noticed that with all the laptops, tablets, and smartphones becoming the main work tools in our age, work-life is becoming more mobile and flexible than ever before! This allows for a variety of work setups: coffee shops, lobby sofas, and kitchen tables, to name just a few! Nowadays, the average employee can easily set up their individualized work environment to their own personal preference.
Connected to that is the growing demand for lounge furniture in the corporate world. And there’s good reason for this growing trend! Some companies may not agree that creating lounge space for their employees is important, but there is evidence that suggests it boosts employee morale and productivity!
First of all, it’s important to create space for both extroverts and introverts. Not everyone can be productive in the same environment. Some focus better in a more relaxed, informal setting, and some need the pressure of a more structured office environment to stay focused and productive. In reality, we all need a little of both, though most people tend to lean more one way or the other.
When you provide a place for comfort and allow freedom of movement, you are improving the overall wellbeing of your employees, which ultimately benefits your company! When employees feel more energized and in control of their surroundings, they are naturally more creative and productive.
In addition, a relaxed posture permits one’s thoughts to naturally wander off the beaten path into a more creative realm, which can lead to exciting breakthroughs of insight and imagination. A recent Turnstone study showed that 32% of working millennials opted to work in a lounge setting, rather than a traditional office environment. But currently, only 25% of them are given this option.
Informal settings can also provide more social connections between colleagues which can bring more collaboration and brainstorming sessions, as well as a greater awareness of the big picture. It can bring an increased sense of teamwork, with everyone in the office using their individual skills to strengthen the group as a whole.
Adam Neumann said, “How do you change the world? Bring people together. Where is the easiest big place to bring people together? In the work environment.”
So, if you want creative, energized, and productive employees, consider adding a few aesthetic pieces of lounge furniture to the break area. You can also use versatile purpose furniture which works for both traditional offices and break rooms, so that employees can have more options! What if you even created a separate lounge space altogether? Your employees would most likely appreciate the quiet area to get away from the crowd and get their creative juices flowing!