Designing out stress in the workplace

The third week in January is home to Blue Monday, recognised as the year’s most miserable day thanks to a combination of generally horrible winter weather, the reality of resuming working life setting in, personal finances remaining unrecovered following the Christmas and New Year period, and summer holidays still feeling a long way off.

Although Blue Monday is useful in explaining why some of us might be feeling low at this time of year, mental health is of course a much more complex and wide-ranging issue. A report from Deloitte last year found that the increased adoption of hybrid working was leading to higher levels of stress and burnout. As the lines between work life and home life continue to blur in the wake of the pandemic, staff are enjoying the flexibility the new world of work provides but struggling to detach, destress and switch off.

With mental health problems costing the UK economy at least £117.9bn annually according to a report by the Mental Health Foundation and the London School of Economics and Political Science, it is in businesses’ best interests to support employees to manage stress and invest in their wellness.

A supportive management culture, benefits such as gym memberships and access to employee assistance programmes and mental health first aid can, of course, play a major role here, but there is growing evidence that the working environment has a part to play in helping staff to avoid stress too.

Factors such as lighting, temperature, air quality, amenities and layout have all been shown to have an influence on employees’ mood, productivity, creativity and stress levels.

Recognising the changing way that businesses use their workspace – and the evolving challenges that they need to address – is key to creating office environments that are fit for purpose in a subtly different world of work. As well as considering other factors that have risen up the agenda, such as sustainability, when creating our latest office schemes – YY London in Canary Wharf, and Osmo in Battersea – we looked at three key areas to ensure future occupiers will live and work healthily and happily.

Amenities

A workplace today needs to be much more than a room full of desks. In-building amenities and communal spaces such as cafes and restaurants, space to exercise or practise mindfulness, and outside spaces to get a breath of fresh air and reconnect with the outdoors can all help employees to take a meaningful break – vital for positive mental health. At YY London, for example, two new restaurants, a juice bar, terraces on all office floors and a 7,500 sq ft rooftop  garden and flexible use rooftop yoga/meeting/event space will give those working at the building a whole lifestyle package around their working day – and that’s without even setting foot out of the building to experience the bars, restaurants and rolling cultural programmes of Canary Wharf on their doorstep. Meanwhile at Osmo in Battersea, we have been exploring incorporation of spaces for an on-site masseuse, meditation room and workout studio in addition to extensive rooftop gardens and terraces to all office floors in order to help provide a sense of calm for workers enduring a stressful day.

Amenities can also help to encourage those working in offices into healthy habits that stave off stress. By incorporating high-quality, easily accessible bicycle parking, showers and changing rooms into our buildings, we aim to boost the number of people choosing an active commute such as cycling, walking or running.

Light and space

Natural light can have a positive affect on mood, creativity and overall health. One study found that employees working near windows slept an average of 46 minutes longer than those that didn’t; while another – from HR advisory firm Future Workplace – found that employees sitting closer to windows were more likely to turn up for work and be more productive when they were there. A study from the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University found that employees sitting within three metres of a window reported an 84% decrease in symptoms of eyestrain, such as blurred vison and headaches. Meanwhile, higher ceilings assist abstract thinking, according to research carried out by the University of Minnesota.

This research was a factor in our design of YY London and Osmo, which have floor-to-ceiling glazing on all floors, with Osmo offering column-free floorplates to give an optimum sense of space and YY London having floor-to-ceiling heights of over five metres in some areas.

Connection with nature

Being around plants makes us feel more connected to the natural world, improves the air quality and helps us to relax and destress.

Increasingly, designers of high-quality offices are incorporating biophilic design, such as green walls and large planters. Being close to natural features has been shown to lower stress levels and boost mental wellbeing. Plants also help to reduce indoor CO₂ levels and office exteriors incorporating plants – such as landscaped roof terraces or green walls – have the added bonus of mitigating the effects of climate change.

Introducing plants is an easy addition to help make almost any office environment more appealing and lift the mood of office workers. At our schemes, we’ve attempted to take this to the next level: at YY London, terraces on every level and a richly planted rooftop terrace with sweeping views provide areas for relaxation and contemplation as well as a place in which to socialise, while at Osmo, terraces on every floor, outdoor meeting spaces, openable windows and an al fresco work hub actively encourage those working at the building to venture outdoors. Both schemes also offer proximity to water, an element  proven to relieve stress and improve mental wellbeing.

Creating an office is no longer simply about constructing a building, leasing it out and letting the tenants do the rest. Businesses today want much more from their office building than just a space to work. Offices are a major element in a company’s offer to its staff: they reflect its brand, they look after its people and they are in part responsible for its culture. With ONS data suggesting that around 17.5 million working days are lost each year due to poor mental health, business leaders are increasingly looking to the physical working environment to promote health, happiness and productivity amongst their staff.