How smart washroom design can improve productivity in your offices

Every detail of your offices, no matter how small, can play an important role in how happy, productive and satisfied your employees are. Yet despite being one of the most crucial and high-traffic areas in your office space, staff washrooms are often overlooked.

If they are badly designed, poorly maintained or simply unhygienic, office bathrooms can cause disruption and unnecessary downtime, not to mention employee (and as a result, employer) frustration. 

But, through smart washroom design, you can create a healthier and happier environment, instantly improving productivity in your offices - here’s how.

Keeping your employees safe and healthy

Offices, much like schools, public transport, gyms and other busy public spaces, can be a breeding ground for germs and illness. And in a professional environment, this can lead to reduced productivity or even absenteeism. 

Therefore, clean and hygienic office bathrooms should be your first line of defence against the spread of germs and illness, and the subsequent impact this can have on the workforce. 

Smart washroom features like automatic taps and soap dispensers eliminate the need for physical contact with surfaces that can easily hold bacteria. Similarly, sensor toilets and urinals, hand dryers and even door locks can reduce the number of touch points even further. 

Choosing non-porous and smooth materials like solid-grade laminate (SGL) throughout your bathrooms can also reduce the number of gaps or recesses where bacteria, mould and mildew could build up. Again, helping to prevent the growth and spread of germs and illness, keeping your employees safe, healthy and productive. 

Enhancing comfort and boosting morale

As well as ensuring that your employees are healthy, well-designed washrooms can also contribute towards the overall comfort and morale of your teams. 

Natural lighting (where possible), pleasant scents, good ventilation and elements of nature like indoor plants or wooden features can boost employee happiness and well-being. Full-length toilet cubicles can also increase the privacy and comfort of staff using the facilities.

This not only makes their bathroom trip more pleasant, but clean, well-ventilated and aesthetically pleasing washrooms can actually provide employees with a moment to refresh and decompress away from their desk.

And research shows that even a brief moment of respite during the day can improve concentration and reduce stress levels, allowing your workforce to be more creative and productive. 

Ensuring supplies are always stocked and problems are easily reported

Imagine you’ve finally caught five minutes to use the facilities, and when you get there, you realise there is no toilet paper, soap or paper towels. This can be extremely inconvenient and can impact your mood, and the same applies to your employees. 

By using smart supply level monitoring tools, you can make it easier to track supplies in real time. When supplies run low, they can be restocked as quickly as possible before it becomes an issue. This simple measure eliminates wasted time, helping to keep your employees focused on what matters most, their work.

It’s also a good idea to get a streamlined feedback system in place so that they can instantly report issues like an empty soap dispenser, a leak or a broken fixture if they need to. That way, they don’t have to waste their time tracking down a facilities manager or searching for the correct email address; they can report any problems quickly and efficiently and get back to work. 

Supporting sustainability and employee well-being 

More and more of today’s professionals want to work for companies that care about the environment and operate sustainably. Many will actively look for employers who support sustainability initiatives and take responsibility for their impact on the environment, and this can start in the office. 

Smart washrooms can contribute to sustainability goals in several ways. Energy-efficient lighting, such as motion-sensor LED fixtures, ensures bathroom lights are only on when they need to be. 

Automatic taps, sensor-flush or low-flow toilets and urinals can help conserve water, all of which help to save electricity and reduce utility costs. 

Knowing that their employer is taking these kinds of positive steps to reduce their environmental impact can increase employee happiness, dedication and productivity.

Even the smallest changes can make a big impact 

When you put all of these features together, smart washroom design can significantly improve employee productivity. However, even making some of the smaller changes to your office bathrooms can have a positive impact. 

Ensuring a hygienic, comfortable and well-stocked space for your workforce can lead to fewer sick days, fewer distractions, and a stronger sense that the company cares about both employee well-being and the environment. All of which can add up to a more focused and motivated workforce.

So, if you’re ready to upgrade your washrooms with smart technology and design, we can help. Get in touch with our talented team today to find out how we can help you create happy, healthy spaces that will benefit both your employees and your business.