While many employees don’t have to work from home anymore now that the pandemic is finally subsiding, more than 97% of Americans still want to. It’s a shift in employee mentality forcing a lot of companies who miss the synergism of in-person collaboration to think about the types of incentives they should offer to entice employees away from their homes and back to a corporate space. In many instances, these businesses are choosing to expand their building amenities, hoping that the promise of added on-site perks will persuade employees to ditch their sweats, brave the commute and return to the office. Here are five of the best building amenities your company can offer:
A Mother’s Room
Lactation rooms are mandated by federal law for all companies with 50 or more nonexempt employees. Per Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), these employers must provide a clean and private space (outside of a bathroom) for lactating mothers to pump breast milk while at work. A company of any size, however, would benefit from providing a well-equipped mother’s room as a building amenity. Not only does it demonstrate support for nursing women and help to reduce absenteeism and lower healthcare costs, it can improve the morale of all employees by providing space for other wellness needs (such as meditation, migraine relief, religious prayer, etc.).
A Well-Stocked Breakroom
Of course, every company needs a well-stocked breakroom where employees can take a few minutes for themselves. Studies indicate that 67% of employees with access to free snacks and a nice place to relax at work are “extremely” or “very” happy with their job, making this seemingly simple perk less of an extravagance and more of a necessity for companies wanting to keep their workers content while onsite. Indeed, providing free food is a win-win for everyone, since it often also keeps employees from leaving the building for breaks that end up lasting a lot longer than anticipated (which necessarily frequently decreases their productivity).
Natural Light and Green Space
Sometimes the best building amenities are the ones that exist outside an office’s front door. Today’s employees have (potentially) had two years of instant access to the great outdoors. To get them to give that up and come back to a work environment for eight (or more) hours a day, companies need to offer similar opportunities for outdoor exposure. Natural light sources and a pretty place to sit outside are two types of building amenities that can keep employees energized and engaged throughout the long workday.
Comfortable Furniture
Comfortable furniture is another building amenity that can have a huge impact on employee productivity. Unfortunately, too many companies neglect it. Taking the time to invest in quality furniture that can be customized for personal tastes and is comfortable, helps employees relax. In turn, they might just stay longer and get more done!
Collaborative Space(s)
Finally, all companies need space for employees to gather. Whether for work or socialization, large open space(s) can facilitate collaboration that, in turn, boosts employees’ moods, fosters innovation, and, ultimately, creates a dynamic company culture. It can be the best building amenity for companies wanting to grow into the future and improve their bottom lines.
Ready to Learn More?
Building amenities don’t have to be expensive to be effective. To learn more about using building amenities to create an inviting, supportive, and stimulating workplace environment, please contact our team of designers at Key Interiors.
