Cool workplaces do they deliver benefits - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

Cool workplaces â€" do they deliver benefits - Viewpoint - careers advice blog It is increasingly common for workplaces to be designed to be ‘cool’. But does the environment actually have an effect on talent attraction and performance? Any  environment  needs to reflect the culture of the organisation, as well as enhance it A huge range of industries have seen how trendy tech businesses have attracted talent through their exciting work environments, with the likes of Google in Zurich boasting a slide between floors, Facebook in Menlo Park a sweet shop, and Twitter in San Francisco a yoga room. Linzi Cassels, Design Director at Pringle Brandon Perkins+Will, a global architecture and design firm, says: “The financial industry is trying to attract the people that are going into the technology industry. So if technology companies are offering ‘cool’ offices to attract the best talent, so will the banks.” What about you? Exciting workplaces may attract new employees, but they won’t necessarily retain them, and any environment needs to reflect the culture of the organisation, as well as enhance it. “If you have a badminton court in a totalitarian office environment, you still won’t get the desired effect,” explains Nav Dhunay, President and CEO of PumpWELL, a Calgary-headquartered technology company. PumpWELL has actually installed a badminton court, along with two putting greens, a table football game and ping-pong tables â€" all part of demonstrating what makes it different from the competition. Introducing sports or play areas into the office can have a positive impact on health and productivity Play hard, work hard Introducing sports or play areas into the office can have a positive impact on health and productivity, according to research by Dr Emmanuel Tsekleves, a senior lecturer in design interactions at Lancaster University’s Institute of Contemporary Arts. “Playfulness is the way to go in the workplace,” he  says. “The extra adrenaline boost translates into more productivity.” While it’s easy to dismiss something like a ping-pong table as a distraction from ‘real work’, in terms of overall productivity, the reality is more complex. “You want to make it a place that people want to go,” says Tsekleves, pointing out that  spaces with plenty of natural light and fresh air can keep staff alert and engaged, while small areas facilitate chance and spontaneous meetings. Sharon Olivier, a tutor at Ashridge Business School, says simply offering different spaces can both energise a workforce and drive collaboration. “Facilitating an activity that takes the employee into another zone can have a major impact on their energy levels,” she says. In the mood There have been many studies conducted into the effects of colour on mood and behaviour. Blue and green have shown in some instances to relax employees; reds and yellow can be stimulating; and white can inhibit creativity. Selecting specific dominant colours throughout an office’s areas can boost mood and productivity. Playfullness is the way to go in the workplace Thomsons Online Benefits opened a new office in Cluj, Romania, with hot pink at its heart. “It has proved to be a very good decision,” says Andrei Pantelimon, who heads up the bold, bright office, where perks include free breakfast, a company gym, the obligatory ping-pong table and a chill-out area. What makes the pioneers in this area stand out â€" with Google and Facebook being pre-eminent examples â€" is that they had the culture before the office. A colourful, engaging, welcoming workplace is undoubtedly a fantastic HR tool, but it needs to ring true, or it will only ever be a new coat of paint. If you enjoyed the above blog then you might also appreciate these other articles, which too originally appeared in the Hays Journal: Training at the top Why talented Chinese graduates are aiming high in Dubai Establishing an effective middle management tier Managing external resources Four pillars of people Family values // View the Hays Journal online, via the Hays Journal iPad app or request a printed copy from haysjournal@hays.com Share this blog: