2020 was all about surviving a pandemic that none of us could have prepared for, and for many of us that meant leaving the office to work from home. 2021 rolled around, and although the vaccination schedule meant we could start thinking further than mere survival, many people continued to work from home. Enter 2022, and whilst it’s still early days, signs show that many people are ready to (possibly, maybe) start returning to the office.
What employees miss at home is the in-person connection and collaboration that comes from their colleagues. What they definitely don’t miss are the hygiene risks associated with being in an enclosed space with other people.
So how can employers create safe and welcoming spaces to which employees actually want to return, and which will give employees the opportunity to reconnect (safely) with colleagues and co-workers?
Encourage returning to the office:
We’ve compiled a short list of 5 things that employers can do to create a workplace that does more than simply meet hygiene protocols, and actually encourages not only returning – but thriving – in the workplace.
1. Invest in air purification
Now that we know that Coronavirus can be spread via the air to people, employees considering returning to the office are going to want reassurance that the air they breath is safe. What better way to provide that reassurance than by investing in an air purification solution for the workplace?
Ambius offers a range of air purifications solutions, including the market-leading VIRUSKILLER™ range. VIRUSKILLER kills 99.9999% of viruses in a single air pass, including Coronavirus*. Installing these units will improve indoor air quality and stop the airborne transmission of infectious illnesses, making indoor spaces safer and more appealing to employees.
Improving poor indoor air quality will help you with improving overall workplace productivity. Read more about that in our previous blog post.
2. Add indoor plants
Adding indoor plants to your workplace will not only make your workplace look more inviting and appealing, they’re also good for your employees’ physical and mental wellbeing.
According to a 2014 study by the University of Exeter having office plants significantly increased workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration, and perceived air quality. They also increased productivity levels by up to 15%.
Lead researcher Marlon Nieuwenhuis, from Cardiff University’s School of Psychology, said: “Our research suggests that investing in landscaping the office with plants will pay off through an increase in office workers’ quality of life and productivity.“
Consider interior landscaping services from Ambius to breathe some fresh air (literally) into your office, and be ready to reap the benefits of employees returning to the office.
3. Hang some (new) wall art
Wall art – or art on canvas as we call it at Ambius – can be a wonderful way of creating a more visually appealing office environment without the capital expense of purchasing art that may not appeal to all colleagues. Our wall art is also available with acoustic inserts to deaden the noise levels in particularly busy or high traffic areas.
Wall art from Ambius is divided into themes, and the images within the theme are changed on a regular basis. We’ve also just launched a new range of these canvas prints called the Diversity range, which you can read about here – or view our full art on canvas catalogue here.
4. Make hand hygiene second nature with SaniGreen
By now we all know we need to wash, dry and sanitise our hands regularly, especially if we are in shared spaces such as the office, so why not make hand sanitising an enjoyable experience for employees who do decide on returning to the office?
A recent innovation from Ambius, SaniGreen aims to meet that brief by housing an elegant, no-touch hand sanitiser within an equally appealing plant stand that includes a live (or silk) plant. You can read more about SaniGreen here.
5. Premium scenting
Our sense of smell is the most powerful of all our five senses and is closely linked with emotion and memory. But smell can have an effect on more than just emotion and memory. According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, just the smell of coffee could make people more alert and energetic.
Businesses can draw on the power of smell by using Premium scenting from Ambius to help establish deeper emotional connections and more positive responses from their customers, visitors and employees. Read more about the power of scent here.
Together with Ambius you can create an office that will do more than simply meet hygiene protocols – you’ll enable your employees to thrive. Ambius can assist with all of initiatives above to create a workplace that employees actually want to come back to.
Contact Ambius today for a free workplace survey and quote.
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