Three Ways to Improve Your Workplace Environment

Australians spend almost a third of their lives at work. And no matter where that workplace exists – whether it be an office, hospital ward,?work?site, or even at home –?it’s?essential for employers to foster an environment which provides people with the best space to work and think.?

Research?on the?effects of improving work environments and creating a great?workplace shows this?is one of the most effective ways to keep employees mentally and physically healthy.

As service providers,?it's critical to get to know?our?clients and the space in which they work. At ServiceFM, we look at our client’s current state of play in their facilities?before we propose solutions.?These can be things from a compliance viewpoint, a maintenance issue, or even the quality of the air in their offices.?It is also important to assess the culture of the organisation and where?the company?would like to direct?their?culture in the future.

Santos, one of our commercial?clients, expressed a strong desire to?prioritise?environmental sustainability for their staff and?the business. Given the size of their workforce, with over 1200 employees housed in a single building, waste management emerged as a significant challenge. Rather than viewing?this?as a hurdle, they saw it as an opportunity to promote a greener solution. This entailed implementing comprehensive training for all staff members to ensure proper waste management, diverting waste from general waste landfill and directing it towards recycling.

If a better workplace environment is part of your?organisation’s?focus, here are three focus areas for you to consider:?

1.?Workplace safety

2.?Workplace efficiency

3.?Workplace appeal

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1. Make it safe

Safety is paramount to?creating a positive workplace environment. It promotes employee well-being and protects staff and workplace visitors alike.?Clients choose ServiceFM for our expertise, knowledge and understanding of compliance, and the associated safety innovations they can put into their organisation.

Ensuring a safe environment and mitigating risk is critical, and covers areas including:

-?Electrical compliance across all electronics.

-?Security systems and personnel embedded into the premises.

-?Considering the quality and cleanliness of the water supply.

-?Compliance and regulatory checks are essential to guarantee industry and WHS regulations are adhered to according to the individual State rules.

-?Considering the quality and purity of the air filtration through HVAC systems and in shared work zones.

-?When requiring stringent infection control standards, using TGA and GECA-registered solutions prevents infections and protects people against all-known pathogens.

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?2. Make it efficient

Facilities Managers?have?historically?measured?performance from an operational efficiency perspective – factors such as operating and maintenance costs.?and cost per square foot.?Although, saving money should never come at the cost of other value factors, like employee mental and physical wellness, which impact measures like retention, satisfaction, and loyalty.

Finding the right efficiency cost-benefit ratio?requires?a detailed analysis of the way anorganisation?operates?their buildings and?facilities, and?identifying?opportunities for increased?efficiencies.?

At the core, economic effort to save money comes through consolidation and better management of services.

ServiceFM builds efficiencies through economies-of-scale by offering consistent service providers across job sites, and centralised delivery of services for one callout fee instead of?several.?The efficiencies multiply when considering the operational implications across job sites nationally for one organisation.

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3. Make it appealing

With the recent surge in hybrid working, enticing employees back to the office requires employers to create an appealing environment. People?need?to see the benefits of returning to the workplace.?

Sometimes, increasing?the appeal is as simple as having the basics taken care of so people can get on with what is most important – their work.?This can range from adding greenery to enliven spaces, to full-scale workplace re-fits, which ensures the standard people have for their homes is replicated at work. Working in an environment with natural scenery, greenery, and light produces healthier employees who take fewer sick days. Even in hospital settings, it has been shown that patients exposed to natural elements?recovered faster?than those not.

By improving aesthetics, safety, cleanliness, and operational cost-efficiency, employers can create a win-win situation for everyone involved.?

It has never been more important for?organisations?to think?holistically?about the workplace environment, rather than focusing on individual elements. One effective approach is to work with?a single?provider that is knowledgeable in all aspects of workplace improvements,?helping tokeep your?organisation?ahead of the curve as a desirable place to work.?

By providing a?desirable environment,?organisations?can foster a positive workspace?where employees?want to come to work.

To learn more about the facility management solutions ServiceFM can provide for your work environment,?follow the link: servicefm.com.au/services?.