Some of the most impressive buildings in the world belong to businesses. The Seattle Spheres which form part of Amazon’s HQ are a great example of this. As more and more money is poured into offices, work environments have become more accessible and more inclusive as well as more glamorous. If you aren’t putting time and money into making your office more inclusive, there’s a good chance that you are losing ground on competitors which could see them attract better talent which could subsequently allow them to grow at a faster rate.
If you are wondering how to make your office more accessible and more inclusive for your team, here are a few things to consider.
Physical Accessibility
When looking to make your office more accessible, the obvious place to start is increasing its accessibility from a physical standpoint. Consider employees who have physical disabilities who are unable to navigate stairs.
Any office that requires stairs should also come with the option of lifts that can help people with mobility issues. Be aware that a broken lift can drastically impact any staff who are wheelchair-bound so maintaining a strong relationship with a lift company is important so that any required maintenance/repairs can be carried out swiftly.
Simpler renovations that can make your office more accessible include automatic doors, wide doorways and swapping steps for ramps.
Technology Accessibility
Advancements in technology have allowed employees to make workplaces far more accessible for staff who suffer from sight or hearing issues. Consider tools such as screen readers and magnifiers which can assist those who are blind or partially blind.
One of the easiest things you can do to assist employees who have hearing issues is adding subtitles and captions to any presentations or videos. This is especially important if safety is a high priority in your office as it means messages are communicated clearly to all employees.
You can also use technology to help those with mobility issues. Voice-controlled devices and smart assistants can make simple tasks such as turning the lights on and off a whole lot easier for staff who aren’t as physically able.
Lighting & Acoustics
Those who suffer from autism or ADHD may have difficulty working in environments with harsh lighting. As a result, it’s best to try and light your office through natural lighting. If this isn’t possible, explore lighting that can mirror the impact of natural light.
Noise can also be a big problem for autistic workers. Offering devices such as noise-cancelling headphones can assist with this while a better solution would be to implement quiet areas with soundproofed walls that can be used by employees who need some quiet time away from the rest of the office.
Ergonomics
As desk jobs become more and more common, studies are identifying a link between sitting for long periods and poor posture, increasing the chances of office workers suffering from issues such as neck and shoulder pain.
Consider how you can offer a working environment that tackles this issue. It may be through adding adjustable desks and furniture or offering standing working options. Some workplaces even take time for desk breaks where employees are prompted to spend time away from their desks to give their bodies a rest.
Clear Signage
Most of us take signs for granted; they’re clearly visible and displayed in our first language. But if you imagine this wasn’t the case, signs become a lot more difficult to see and read. Fortunately, there are a few quick fixes which means there is no excuse for your office not to be clearly signposted for all employees.
Ensuring all signs are labelled in braille will allow you to create a safe environment for visually impaired staff. If you have a multi-lingual office, it would also be a nice touch to have signs in different languages.
Workplace Policies
Implementing flexible policies can allow your workforce to balance challenges such as childcare with work hours. For instance, it’s becoming increasingly common for employers to offer remote working options so staff can keep an eye on children while completing work tasks from home.
This shift also reduces or removes commuting costs which instantly makes jobs more accessible to all.
Education
Finally, try to educate your staff about the issues above. While some solutions mentioned are necessary, others could be replaced by simply educating your staff. For example, if it is not viable to introduce a quiet area, try to create an environment where employees are aware of the impact of making too much noise.
However you try to make your workplace more accessible, you may want to view it as an investment. Making your office more accessible will increase the talent pool available to you when next hiring. Subsequently, you should be able to attract higher-skilled employees who can help take your company to the next level.