Purchasing office furniture that is right for you and your employees is of utmost importance to your business. Comfortable employees with pleasant surroundings will be more motivated and therefore productive all round than those with uncomfortable, drab furnishings. So how can you achieve the perfect office environment – we take a look at some of the key factors below;

Ergonomics

The most important consideration when buying any product is that it needs to do what you want it to do, and office furniture is no exception. If anything it is even more important to get right as you need to ensure the good health and well being of your workforce. Office workers spend 6-8 hours a day in their chairs so they require full support for their back, neck, arms and legs at all times. Some people may sacrifice ergonomics in favour of a lower unit price, but this often represents a false economy as low quality equipment needs to be replaced more frequently and can increase staff sickness and absence.

Cost

Cost is a key consideration for the customer – everyone wants to get the best possible deal for their office furniture. While it is tempting to focus on price as the lowest denominator, you do need to bear a couple of factors in mind. The first is the amount of research and development which has gone into making the products. Market leaders such as Herman Miller are constantly researching and investing in new technologies, resulting in reduced cost of ownership whilst increasing value for money over the lifetime of the product.

Design

The design of your office furniture can have a considerable impact on the motivation, and therefore productivity, of your workforce. It has been shown that when people are attuned to their environment they respond positively to it, as they view it as an investment in themselves. Old fashioned designs on the other hand, will elicit a very different response from your employees than modern, bright furniture which makes use of different worktop colours.

Environmental

Not every piece of furniture is created green, especially if you are importing furniture from abroad when environmental policies may be implied, but are difficult to verify. In order to assure your furniture company is pursuing a truly green strategy, you should ensure they have offices in the UK which are subject to UK legislation. Their clients should also have ISO 9001 and 14001 accreditation as a bare minimum. In addition, all products and packaging should be 100% recyclable to avoid adding to the ongoing landfill crisis in the UK.

Accessories

Accessories are best seen as essential accompaniments to your office furniture, and not optional extras. Unfortunately many business owners overlook accessories and the benefit they can have to the safety and efficiency of your office space. For example monitor arms can create extra desk space, cable management minimise the risk of trips or falls and well placed power sockets save time when adding new desks or computers to your office.

Space

The way you use your space in your office will have a direct impact on your workforce. While it’s tempting to lease the smallest space for the largest number of employees to save money, this may only benefit you in the short-term. The last thing any worker wants is to be tightly packed in a hot office so this kind of setup isn’t the best way to get the most out of them. Clever use of modern furnishings can, however, create an illusion space while making maximum use of your floor space.

By now it should be clear that there are a number of factors to consider when purchasing office furniture for your business. The main consideration underpinning each factor, however, is the effect it has on your workforce. After all, if your employees are uncomfortable and unhappy then you won’t be maximizing the value they can add to your business.

Author Bio: Gallery Office Solutions supply and install Office Furniture In Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bicester as well as nationwide.

Category: Business
Keywords: office furniture,furnishing