We spend at least 8 hours in our workplace every weekday. The environment that we work in has major influence to our health. Good news is that there are several programs and certifications developed by professionals in medical, design, M&E, etc. which can help us to develop an office that take care of our health.
Two main certification programs are Fitwll and WELL certifications. They set up standards of many aspects that can improve the indoor environment for people spending long hours inside. Those typically include:
- Air – ventilation effectiveness, indoor pollutants
- Water – safety, accessibility
- Nourishment – food quality, promotion of healthy eating
- Light – visual acuity, circadian health
- Movement – physical activity spaces and policies
- Thermal Comfort – humidity control, adaptability
- Sound – noise isolation, masking speech privacy
- Materials – toxic chemical reduction, transparency
- Mind – health benefits access, biophilia
- Community – emergency preparedness, vulnerable population support
But why do we care if our workplace is a healthy place to work? Business owners or executives may consider below benefits it can bring:
- Recruitment and retention perks by signalling a commitment to health and satisfaction;
- Boosting work performance through better air, lighting, nourishment and acoustics;
- Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism with healthier spaces that uplift mood;
- Market differentiation and prestige for sustainability efforts;
- Ensuring resilience against viruses through air quality and filtration;
- Monitoring metrics over time with recertification every three years.
These are just some highlights that a healthy workplace can help the business and staffs. Even if we don’t consider those, isn’t it a good idea to stay in a healthy place where you can enjoy and be productive?