Supporting employees
Traditionally, office design focused on productivity – this conversation is expanding to include a more holistic, person-centered point of view. Today the workspace itself can be used to promote well-being, an enduring state that encompasses wellness of mind and body, and can also lead to productive, engaged, and healthy employees.
Keeping employees engaged and healthy
The top three global health issues for workers in a professional setting are:
- Workplace stress
- Lack of physical activity
- Obesity
These health risks not only affect the person, but also the organization, through absenteeism and employee healthcare costs.
Enhance performance and reduce risks
A focus on well-being represents a shift from a “space-centric” to a “people-centric” approach in office design. Putting people in the center of the design process results in outcomes related to quality of life.
In order to gain insights on how interior design of space can be leveraged, Haworth has an ongoing, long-term global research program involving hundreds of people. Based on preliminary results, we have developed these design tips for well-being.
The WELL Building Standard®
The WELL Building Standard takes a holistic approach to health in the built environment, addressing behavior, operations, and design. It certifies organizations that are building spaces to support the physical and mental health of their employees – what we like to call well-being.
How has Haworth helped implement well-being?
Haworth has implemented the WELL Building Standard in a number of showrooms, and we work with clients who have also implemented the standard.
LA SHOWROOM
When building our LA Showroom, we took the opportunity to work with Delos to explore the WELL Building Standard in space design. Its seven pillars address the aspects that support well-being in the build environment: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.
FAMILIES AND WORK INSTITUTE
The Families and Work Institute, a nonprofit research organization located in Manhattan, desired a new space that would reduce costs, better support evolving workstyles, and reflect the learning from their own research on worker health and well-being.
The Haworth research team
Research is about action and change. Haworth research investigates links between workspace design and human behavior, health and performance, and the quality of the user experience. We share and apply what we learn to inform product development and help our customers shape their work environments.
