Office Perks to Instantly Improve the Workplace Experience

As we move out of the pandemic and back into offices, employers are working harder than ever to create physical workspaces that employees want to commute to. The rise of working from home, hybrid working and the great resignation have all shifted the onus onto employers, with many now seeking new ways to rise to the challenge.

Workplace perks and office amenities can go a long way to creating a positive and productive work culture. Here, we look at how the amenities within your private office, the wider workspace and the local area can attract workers back to the office. And while you can’t control the amenities outside the office, it’s something you should consider when searching for a new office space or relocating.

What Are Office Amenities?

Before we can begin discussing what amenities and perks can improve the workplace, we need to understand what they are. Office amenities are simply everything in an office that’s more than the bare minimum requirements. For example, all offices need to have space to work — desks and chairs — but an office amenity might be the option of standing desks, a choice of working ‘zones’ and even ergonomic desk chairs.

Office amenities are there to make the employee experience even better, accommodating a range of needs to create a space people want to go to.

Examples of office amenities

Some popular office amenities include:

• Fully stocked kitchens
• Spacious breakout areas
• Bike storage
• On-site showers
• Outdoor areas— such as a roof terrace
• Car parks

This might seem like a lot to have to consider for your own office, which is where serviced offices come in.

One of the key selling points of serviced offices is you bring your laptop and everything else is, or can be, set up and ready to go for you. You just need to sit down and start working. Operators and landlords recognise the importance of office amenities in attracting clients to their buildings and helping businesses support their employees.

In fact, 46% of workspace occupiers expect to see better offerings from their workplace in the next three years. Selecting an office that provides you and your team with the right amenities now can have a positive impact on motivation, productivity and employee retention, so it’s important to get it right.

As well as this, 24/7 access also gives employees the freedom to control their hours, while dog-friendly offices and nearby green spaces can be the icing on the cake.

Wellbeing Work Perks

Investing in employee wellbeing can increase resilience, boost employee engagement, reduce sickness absence, improve performance and productivity, and encourage employees to head back into the office to take advantage.

Green spaces also play an important role in boosting wellbeing. Incorporating plants into your office design and making the most of any outside space can help to lower anxiety and stress and make employees feel more refreshed throughout the day.

When it comes to the wellbeing initiatives you can implement at work, there are plenty to choose from — but you need to be careful, as offering low-value perks can have the opposite effect on employees.

Now, you need to think beyond free coffee and healthy snacks. Instead, subsidised travel, cycle-to-work schemes, free yoga, HIIT or pilates classes, and social initiatives such as walking meetings and regular outings can all boost wellness, increase trust and open communication between employees. This works to build meaningful relationships between team members, which can boost productivity and office attendance.

Dynamic Office Layouts

When it comes to their workplaces, employees increasingly want spaces that support how they like to work. Socialisation is an important aspect of office life and it’s something that can’t be achieved when working from home. Providing multipurpose collaboration areas that encourage interaction between coworkers can help to create a work environment that people actively enjoy being in.

As well as creating social and collaborative areas, consider different office layouts that support modern working methods. Introducing coworking spaces and hot desking areas that employees can pre-book means they’ll always know when there’s a desk available. What many people also want from their workspace is privacy. Whether it’s meeting rooms or another space where they can get away to focus or take video calls, physical spaces that enable employees to connect with remote workers without disturbing their teams are key.

Office Decorations

We’ve already discussed how the office layout impacts productivity, happiness and wellbeing. But did you know that office decorations can also impact your employees? Comfort and stimulating environments can keep workers engaged during working hours, while also reducing any back problems and muscle fatigue. Including the various zones in activity-based working environments can also help reduce any aches and pains, as it encourages employees to get up and move around the office.

You may also choose to have your branding displayed around the office, whether that’s a specific colour scheme or company logos, where possible. If you’re working from a flexible office space, you can speak to the office provider to see how you can personalise the area so it reflects your business. Personalising your office space immediately shows off your brand to any clients or partners while keeping your employees immersed in the company.

Office Christmas decorations

In the last few weeks of the year, you and your team will most likely be giddy with excitement over the festive celebrations. Decorating your office for Christmas is a fun and easy way to keep the excitement building and bring extra cheer to the space.

You don’t have to go overboard or blow your budget, either. There are plenty of office Christmas decoration ideas that are relatively cheap and easy to implement. Adding a Christmas tree with soft twinkling lights to the communal area of the office can brighten the space up, giving a more cosy feel to any break time.

Lighting candles or soft desk lamps can also create a warm, homely feel, especially as it gets dark earlier in the day. Fairy lights across walls and even ornaments hanging from the ceiling (if possible) can work to bring the festivities into the office, while simply encouraging your teams to wear festive jumpers can work to decorate your office for Christmas.

Amenities in the Local Area

In this post-pandemic era, an area’s ‘walkability’ is a major factor to consider when selecting a new flexible workspace. If employees are going to leave the comfort of their own home, they need to be in a space that’s enjoyable to be in. A big part of that is being able to walk to public transport, cafes, bars and restaurants, gyms, parks and green spaces.

Through the pandemic, many workers became used to getting out, running errands and working out during the working day, which is set to continue. People want to be able to walk to a park or go to the gym at lunchtime. There’s plenty of research that supports this, with The London Report 2022 finding that two-thirds of London respondents agree that being close to amenities is more important now than pre-pandemic.

Local bars and restaurants

After-work drinks are a tale as old and time and, post-pandemic, the benefits are even more pronounced. Having a meal at a restaurant or a glass of wine in a bar is rejuvenating, relationship-building and an important part of a better work-life balance. Few things are as effective at encouraging cross-team communication or building a positive company culture than a relaxing and enjoyable team lunch or dinner.

With this in mind, some businesses are creating in-house bars to provide a place for employees to build and nurture relationships outside of structured work. That can translate into better team working and idea sharing, helping to cultivate a sense of community and belonging.

But you don’t need your own bar to cultivate this social capital. Being in an area with bars and restaurants within walking distance can entice remote and hybrid workers into the office more regularly. They can also be a great place to host external meetings with clients.

Find a Flexible Workspace That’s Worth the Commute

Creating a culture and space where everyone feels included, comfortable and well looked after will attract workers back to the office. And, here at Knight Frank, we can help you find the perfect space.

We’re experts at finding coworking, flexible and private office space at the best price. Let us do the hard work so you can focus on running your business. Plus, our expertise won’t cost you a penny. Get in touch to start your search.

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