Today's modern offices have undergone significant changes in terms of design and physical facilities provided. Millennials and Gen Z, who are the generations that make up the current workforce, have high preferences and expectations when it comes to the work environment. They feel more motivated to work if their office provides additional (non-essential) facilities that are interesting and enjoyable. Therefore, many companies are competing to provide office facilities that can meet the needs and desires of this generation.
However, there are also different views. Some people argue that this facility can actually be a distraction and interfere with employees' focus on their main tasks. So do these non-essential facilities actually increase or decrease employee performance?
Get to Know the Non-Essential Facilities that Employees Dream of
Non-essential physical facilities in the workplace are increasingly becoming a determining factor in determining employee happiness. Below are several non-essential physical facilities that are attractive in the dream office of the current generation:
Game Room: Game room with pool table, ping pong, game consoles or other.
Creative Collaboration Spaces: Creative co-working spaces with amenities such as large whiteboards, projectors, and comfortable seating areas are important.
Aesthetic Space: A colorful and pleasing work space that can support employee creativity.
Cafe: A cafe with an attractive design that allows employees to eat together, chat casually, or work while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.
Sports Facilities: Sports facilities, such as a gym, badminton court or other fitness studio, are important for employees in maintaining physical health.
Meditation Room: Employees can use this space to relax their minds, meditate or even attend a yoga session. These facilities function as a place to work as well as to relax and interact.
However, keep in mind, every company must consider the availability of resources and the needs of their employees before deciding what facilities they will provide.
Therefore, let's discover the pros and cons of having non-essential physical facilities in the work environment. This will help companies make wiser decisions regarding facility management and productivity.
Pros of Having Non-Essential Facilities in The Workplace
The availability of non-essential facilities in the office brings a number of advantages and benefits, both for companies and employees. The following are some of the benefits of non-essential physical facilities in the work environment:
1. Improve Employee Well-Being: Facilities such as exercise rooms, meditation rooms, games rooms or cafes can be places to relax and relieve stress. This can improve employee well-being (physical and mental).
2. Improving Employee Health: Sports facilities can help employees maintain health and increase work morale. This is also an effort to reduce employee absences due to illness.
3. Increase Creativity: An aesthetic space or cafe can stimulate employee creativity. It can be a place to look for innovative ideas and solutions.
4.IncreaseCollaboration: Creative collaboration spaces can encourage collaboration among employees. It can be a place for collaboration, exchange of ideas and discussion of projects outside of a formal work environment.
5. Increase Social Connection: A game room, exercise room, meditation room or cafe can create opportunities for casual interactions outside of work tasks with coworkers. This can encourage employees to get to know each other and increase connections.
6. Increases Employee Retention: Companies that provide non-essential amenities tend to have higher employee retention rates. Employees who feel valued and comfortable at work are more likely to be loyal and stay long-term.
7. Improve Company Image: These facilities can also be a branding image for the company. This can help build a positive image of the company in the eyes of employees, potential applicants and the public.
8. Attract Strong Recruitment: Employees who are satisfied with the availability of non-essential amenities will advocate on social media and employer review sites. This will attract the attention of the best candidates to work at your company. As a result, it will be easier for your business in talent acquisition efforts.
9. Increase Productivity: Companies that provide non-essential facilities can increase employee satisfaction.This also supports employees to be more focused and continue to innovate.
Cons of Non-Essential Facilities in The Workplace
Having non-essential facilities available in the office may provide various benefits, but it can also have some disadvantages and disadvantages that need to be considered carefully. The following are some of the disadvantages that may arise from non-essential facilities in the workplace:
1. High Costs: Providing non-essential facilities requires additional financial and labor resources. This includes equipment, maintenance, and operational costs. Therefore, companies must consider whether the benefits obtained from these facilities are commensurate with the costs incurred.
2. High Maintenance and Cleanliness: Non-essential facilities require regular maintenance and cleanliness. If maintenance is inadequate, these facilities can become unpleasant, ineffective, and even fail quickly.
3. Disruption to Productivity: Sometimes non-essential facilities can also be a nuisance that reduces productivity. For example, a crowded recreation room, or an enticing game can distract employees from the tasks they should be doing. This can reduce efficiency and quality of work produced.
4. Gaps Between Employees: There is a risk that some employees will use non-essential facilities more than others. For example, some groups control these facilities excessively, so that other groups cannot use them freely. This can create a feeling of inequality among the team. As a result, this can disrupt team cooperation and harmony.
The positive or negative impacts of non-essential physical facilities may vary. This depends on how it is managed and utilized. Therefore, companies need to consider employee needs and company budgets in investing in appropriate non-essential facilities.
Facts about Non-Essential Facilities Affect Employee Performance
From the positive and negative impacts above, non-essential facilities can indeed affect employee performance. This fact is also supported by several studies conducted in 2022 which show that the workplace environment has a significant influence on employee performance. A study conducted by Steelcase also found that employees who have access to workplace wellness facilities, such as fitness facilities, tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their jobs.
From the data above, it can be concluded that the availability of non-essential physical office facilities can influence employee productivity and performance. However, measuring the return on investment (ROI) of non-essential facilities is also very difficult. Thus, this makes the assessment of its effectiveness ambiguous. Thus, companies do need to provide several non-essential facilities. However, it could be a consideration to provide these facilities sufficiently so that they do not burden the company's finances too much.
Companies can choose several non-essential facilities that can support their business. For example, companies that focus on creativity can consider providing aesthetic spaces, creative collaboration spaces or cafes. Meanwhile, manufacturing companies can consider providing sports facilities and games rooms. However, it is important to remember that non-essential facilities are not the only factor that influences employee performance. One of the important facilities that entrepreneurs often underestimate is the latest technology facilities.
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