These more casual environments also promote employee interaction for team-building skills and focus concern on the human element. If the staff is happy and works well together, it can only be good for the bottom line. Workspace design can also improve an organization s competitiveness. The goal is to make the workplace more comfortable for employees so that they can enjoy their work experience thereby improving productivity. Integrating amenities into the workplace also can bring about this effect.
Some companies add ice cream, soda, snack, or espresso machines to the coffee stations.
Other amenities include cafeterias, fitness centers, seating areas for informal discussions, flexible hours, and comfortable furniture. Increasingly comfortable work equipment for hands and fingers is a growing trend. Such items include adjustable keyboards, mouse trays, chairs, and even work surfaces. Also, greater consideration is being placed on lighting in order to prevent the eyestrain that can come from viewing monitors all day. Electrical services and cooling requirements in a new building are far greater than in buildings of the past.