The workplace and its overall environment play a huge role in how an organization functions. It affects the attitude of the employees, their productivity, and the employees' willingness to come to work regularly.
Making the necessary changes to turn a typical office set-up into a functional space that considers its end-users is crucial for the overall performance of a company. Incorporating wellness is one area of the advocacy that serves as a beneficial investment in workplace design. Wellness pertains to any activity or organizational policy that promotes healthy behavior among employees and helps improve health outcomes. (1)
The Philippines is one of the countries with the largest IT-BPM industry, and its industry has been the backbone of the country’s economy since its early beginnings in the 90s. It is estimated that 1.3 million Filipinos were employed in over 1,000 BPO companies in 2019, with that percentage increasing by 8-10% per year. It is estimated that the country accounts for 10-15% of the worldwide BPO business. (2)
Because of the nature of the services and type of job IT-BPM does, they are known to have a challenging work environment. Various companies including the IT-BPM companies are finding various ways to help lessen the stress of their employees, to encourage their workforce to remain in the organization, and to motivate them to transition back to the physical workplace.
Using design to foster workplace well-being
Understanding the employee demographics
Aside from the company’s branding, understanding the demographics and the culture of the company’s workforce is important in deciding the layout and aesthetics of the workplace. It is vital in establishing the layout and aesthetics of the workplace, and it plays a significant influence in developing an emotional connection of the employees to their work. The majority of the workforce’s demographics is one of the primary basis on what the ideal comfortable and well-designed workplace looks like.
Inclusivity through the physical space
Employees stay when they feel they are valued and being treated fairly. When the workforce feels supported, it contributes significantly to the creative spirit required to meet their deliverables and encourages the talents to stay with the company.
The foundation of an inclusive workplace is valuing people and their diversity while making them feel accepted. Inclusive design improves the usability and accessibility of products or spaces for all individuals, regardless of physical condition, age, ethnicity, or other factors that have previously contributed to people being excluded or marginalized.
Regulated Space for social interactions
Filipinos are very sociable; they always need to connect with other people. Filipinos are often warm and sociable people who like interacting with those around them. Strangers frequently engage in discussion or share stories about their homeland, family, or country with relatives, friends, or outsiders. (4)
In a country where the majority of its people are used to social interactions, providing an area in the workplace for social interactions and collaborations is essential. However, the primary purpose of the space is for employees to conduct their work and complete their tasks; the design of the social spaces must be regulated so that it does not distract employees in focus spaces in the main workstation.
Encouraging physical breaks
Aside from regular lunch and snack breaks, employers must also promote physical breaks for their employees.
Physical activity provides many health advantages to all employees, regardless of whether physical fitness is required for their occupations. Because office employees' jobs are often sedentary, this area is sometimes disregarded. Employees and employers are not usually aware of the detrimental long-term health consequences of this situation.
A fit and healthy team, on the other hand, is one of the most important assets a company can have. This is why companies must make a greater effort to promote physical activity, particularly team-based exercise, throughout the workplace. (5)
Designing an area for physical activity and adding pathways in the floor to promote short walks in the office would help in employees’ physical fitness.
Aside from maximizing space and ensuring optimal acoustics, the approach in workplace design for IT-BPM companies is now evolving into a more aware and emphatic way. The workforce is the key business drivers of a company. Employees and even the new job seekers nowadays want to work in an environment where they feel appreciated and where their health and well-being are being prioritized.
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