3 Tips for Building a More Accessible Workplace Experience

Hybrid work has changed the way we look at work-life balance. Our work experiences and personal experiences are more intertwined than ever before and can affect how we perform in both scenarios. 

According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report, employees who consistently experience burnout at work say their job makes it difficult to fulfill their family responsibilities. And employees who are engaged at work, but not thriving in their personal lives have a 61% higher likelihood of ongoing burnout.

How someone feels at work can seriously impact their day-to-day life and vice versa. Gallup’s report shows that 44% of the world’s employees experienced anxiety, anger, and/or sadness a lot the previous day. If an employee is feeling workplace anxiety they’ll take it home with them, so how can you prevent that?

Creating Equitable Workplaces for Employee Well-Being 

Build a company culture that promotes equity, accessibility, and positivity, starting with your office. Creating a frictionless workplace experience is crucial; going into the office should be easy for everyone. Your space shouldn’t be built for one type of person, but built to accommodate a range of people.

Set your teams up for success at work and at home by building an engaging space all of your people feel comfortable in; creating different environments for work is a great place to start.

Here are some features you can add to your workplace to make it more accommodating.

1. Collaborative & Creative Workspaces

I know this one may seem obvious since the office is a resource for collaboration, but I’m not talking about adding meeting rooms. Think of this as a brainstorming space. An area with bright colors or a theme that gets the wheels turning and promotes thinking outside of the box. 

Sitting behind a computer isn’t the best for everyone, some people do their best work when they’re up and moving. Equip this space with whiteboards or large notepads, so people can jot down their thoughts. Maybe add some fidget spinners or similar objects to help them stay focused. 

This kind of space can help people with writer's block spark some new ideas, but it can also help people with hyperactive tendencies move around and stay focused. 

2. Quiet Areas for Focus & Downtime

The office is a hub for culture and community, but for some, it can be overwhelming. Introverts or people who experience sensory overload may not always want to be in a crowded space with conversation and excitement.

Setting up smaller quieter focus areas will give your team members who need it a chance to step away from the noise, so they can get work done, relax and reset. Consider adding soundproof pods with comfortable seating and dimmable lighting away from the high-traffic areas of your office.

3. Places for Privacy

The goal is to create a space where everyone feels comfortable and sometimes that means giving people privacy. We’re all human and occasionally have to deal with personal things during work hours. Communicate your understanding by adding phone booths for private phone calls, or spaces like Mamava for breastfeeding.

Having a dedicated space where people can step away is a great way to show your teams they’re welcome and safe. Don’t just prepare for humanity in the workplace, accept it.

Your Workplace Should be Built for Your Team

If you build a space that’s welcoming, warm, and accommodating people will come. Everyone wants to feel like they belong and customizing your office space to cater to your team's needs is a great way to do that. How do you find out what your teams need to feel safe? Ask them.

If you need help collecting feedback or giving your teams access to the office wherever they are, Robin is the app for you. Want to learn more? Book a demo.

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