Curb Employee Turnover Using This Interior Design Approach

What gets employees to stick around? A company’s space can be a huge selling point–and an important factor in employee retention. When trying to decide between two jobs, a space that feels more conducive to work can be the difference between an offer declined or accepted. That’s why more companies are focusing on the interior design of their office to have the upper hand in a competitive job market.

Research has shown having designated areas that cater to a few different types of work–but also have the flexibility to become multi-use–are what workers want. A few areas keep popping up as places employees value:

• •   Meeting Spaces (that don’t need reservations)
• •   Do Not Disturb Zone (a quiet space to aid concentration)
• •   Town Hall/Central Gathering Area (that will fit your whole team)

Companies like Google, Facebook, and IBM have jumped on the discovery. “[They] have devoted millions of dollars to the redesign of their workspaces, replacing cubicles and traditional private offices with large open spaces, smaller team spaces for collaborative work, and pods for private conversations,” states the Harvard Business Review article.

The key is spaces that can flex and flow. An area might be designated for team meetings, but it can also lend itself to an impromptu brainstorm. Greg Parsons, senior vice president and creative director for Herman Miller puts it well, “Now they [open offices] are about a purposeful variety of settings that are as unique and welcoming as they are high-performing. Work today is far less about people sitting at computer keyboards all day. Today, people are creating ideas together. That follows an organic path of working alone, then together—and variety of experiences, mixing groups, and casualness fuel it. The workplace can support this.”

There are a few concrete factors to keep in mind. Provide plenty of spaces for collaboration that don’t need reserved. Sometimes spontaneous meetings need to happen and the roadblock of not having prior reservations can hinder much-needed conversations. Creating a quiet zone that signifies people are not to be disturbed is also highly in demand. Lastly, an open gathering area where you can corral your whole team works wonders for morale. And don’t overlook products–there are many choices that can lend a hand in making your space more versatile. Glassboards like Stroll can roll anywhere to make a space collaborative.

In the end, it’s finding the delicate balance of having spaces for designated tasks, but also establishing a sense of flexibility so your team can be creative with the spaces that exist. Thoughtful interior design can lead to less burnout and turnover. Build it well and they will stay.