When it comes to your business premises, everything you can do to keep your staff cool and comfortable is key. Whether it’s the height of summer and the warm weather has hit the office, or you’re looking to keep your staff members safe and secure in their workstations, you’ve got a responsibility and a duty of care that needs upholding. With that being said, if you want to make improvements to your workforce’s surroundings, then here are 5 helpful tips to keep business premises comfortable for staff all year round.
By Team Savant
Image: Ron McClenny
Use Low-Energy Lighting
Low-energy lighting is a good one when it comes to keeping your premises nice and cool. If you’re using lighting that’s only using minimal energy, then you’ll find that the temperature of the room itself is more comfortable to work in.
Harsh lighting can also make for uncomfortable working conditions, especially when it’s clinical white lighting. Try to opt for lighting that’s warm and inviting. Make use of lighting from standing floor lighting to workstation lights for individual staff members.
Insulate the Building
Insulating the building is going to keep all of your staff warm and comfortable in the building premises. There’s nothing worse than freezing while working. It can impact productivity levels if your staff are trying to keep themselves warm instead of doing the work they need to do for the day or week ahead.
Insulation also helps during the summer months too by keeping everything nice and cool. Consider investing in the insulation where possible and check on existing insulation to make sure that is continuing to do its job.
Use Fans
Fans are great for helping disperse the air around the room, and in an environment that’s particularly warm, they can be incredibly helpful.
If you’re having trouble with your business premises temperature and working environment in general then you should buy an evaporative cooler. These are great for helping cool down the air, which is useful with equipment that’s pumping out a lot of heat. This is typical in warehouses and manufacturing lines.
Consider a Relaxed Dress Code for High Temperatures
As the temperatures reach high peaks, it’s worth looking at what policies you have in place when it comes to dress codes. While it’s not advised to have workers walking around in bikinis and beach shorts, you might want to look at relaxing your dress code during the warmer months.
Offer Flexible Working
Flexible working is helpful when it comes to making your staff more comfortable. In the wake of the pandemic, flexible working is now more common than ever, making it something you should consider doing as a business. Not only is it useful for flexibility but it can also help with reducing overhead costs that your business premises demand.
Keeping your business premises cool and comfortable for your staff aids worker satisfaction but also shows respect and value for your workforce in general. Use these tips to keep them cool and comfortable this year.