Artificial Intelligence and technology are having a huge impact on the workplace today. Tasks evolve at lightning speed and employees must learn to cope with continuous change. To avoid stress becoming a regular factor among your employees, it’s high time to invest in a stress-free work environment where employees feel at home. Three tips for designing a harmonious work environment that boosts employees’ mental health.

1. Create a positive and supportive work culture

Everything starts with the right mindset. With a positive and supportive culture, you immediately set the right tone. After all, humans are social creatures, and encouraging collaboration, open communication and mutual respect can significantly reduce stress levels. 

Set up spaces where colleagues can brainstorm and consult informally. A space that gives them a sense of security and where they can freely share their opinions and insights.

In addition, collaborations between companies also boost employee well-being. A central meeting place in your office building, accessible to outsiders or not, provides an environment where experts from different fields collaborate flexibly, exchange ideas and expand their network. Bringing people from diverse backgrounds together promotes interaction and innovation, making employees more fulfilled in their jobs.

2. The new way of working

Countless deadlines are flying around us. At busy, chaotic times, a quiet zone is a shelter to get everything back on track and bring structure to your work. This can be either a separate room where you can work alone or a common area for which clear guidelines have been established that promote silence and calm. Focus rooms, call boxes and quiet areas are an affordable, flexible and sustainable alternative to meet the needs and wants of employees. 

In addition to quiet areas, it is a good idea to make space for one or more relaxation areas. Classically, every company has a coffee room where employees can socialize. A number of organizations already go a step further and deliberately design spaces where meditation, sports or table soccer are offered. All with the same goal in mind: to give our brains a break to get back to work full of energy.

3. Pay attention to the design of your office building

A thoughtful design of your office has a positive impact on employee productivity and well-being. A functional layout can go hand in hand with a comfortable and inspiring workplace. Start working with soft colors, try to provide as much natural light as possible and choose plenty of greenery. These small adjustments have been proven to reduce absenteeism, lower stress and enhance the feeling of coming home.