Finding the perfect office space for your company is about more than just locating the one that's the right fit for your budget. You need to be certain that your space makes it possible for your employees to work productively and to enjoy coming to the office every day. When you're considering different spaces, keep the following in mind and you'll be on your way to finding a unit that is truly ideal for your business:
1. A Mix of Work Spaces
Open floor plans are all the rage today and for good reason. They encourage collaboration and keep employees from feeling shut away in offices. But for all their benefits, open floor plans aren't ideal for every work task. Some employees may need quiet to complete their work or deal with confidential, sensitive information that can't be discussed in an open area. That's why you should look for office spaces that have both open seating and private offices that can be shared or assigned to members of your team that need their own work areas every day.
2. Multiple Ways to Get There
An office that makes the daily commute a nightmare will lead to low morale in a hurry. Make sure the office you choose has enough parking available for your employees that drive. If you're located in a major metropolitan area, offices that are easily accessible by bus or subway will help your employees that choose not to drive get to the office and back on time.
3. Ample Light
A dimly lit office is problematic for a number of reasons. Poor lighting can lead to eye strain and headaches, and the dismal atmosphere can suck the energy out of your team. The best office spaces will have plenty of windows that let in natural light and allow your employees to see the outside world. In rooms where there are few or no windows, there should be bright artificial lighting that mimics sunlight, such as energy efficient LEDs.
4. Proximity to Services
Helping your employees balance work and life is important to promoting job satisfaction among your team. Offices that are located near medical offices, dry cleaners, drug stores, salons, grocery stores, restaurants and bars will make it easy for everyone to run errands before and after work and during lunch hour.
5. Green Features
LED lights, Energy Star heating and cooling systems and other eco-friendly features benefit your company in a number of ways. Their efficiency means lower utility costs and can help your company live up to your sustainability goals. LEED certified buildings are the greenest of all and have been shown in studies to reduce the number of sick days among workers and to increase productivity.
6. Technology Compatibility
Your employees need to be able to use their mobile devices and laptops within your office space. Before signing a lease, make sure that there are no large cellular dead zones in the unit you're considering. Also, take a look at how many electrical outlets are available throughout the office space. You'll need plugs not only for your desktop computers and office equipment but also for recharging devices.
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