Aiming for inclusion and accessibility when planning office spaces is integral to creating a positive culture as well as creating more productive and efficient working environments.
People with physical disabilities are the most often in need of inclusive office spaces; however, other groups also require support that caters to their unique needs and abilities.
Physical Disabilities
When designing accessible and inclusive office spaces, it`s crucial to take physical disabilities into account. The disability community is diverse and large – it is crucial that they are included as early as possible in any design process for office fit-out projects.
As well as being open and honest about how your company can assist employees with disabilities, discussing their individual needs can help ensure you`re meeting them as best as possible and prevent further discrimination or harassment from taking place.
Designing with accessibility in mind can increase employee well-being and productivity by creating an environment that is more accommodating for everyone in your workforce. Furthermore, this can create an inclusive workplace where customers and visitors feel welcomed and valued by everyone present.
Neurodiversity
Today`s workplace includes about 20% of employees who identify as neurodivergent, which means they have learning or mental health differences that impact them, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, or another neurological condition.
When creating office environments for neurodiverse employees, it is crucial that designers consider their needs in terms of lighting, airflow, and building layout.
Neurodivergent-friendly offices differ from traditional workplace designs in that they give employees more choice and flexibility in choosing how they work, such as selecting which settings and tools best support their productivity, while employers can offer resources like noise-canceling headphones or quiet break spaces for optimal employee productivity.
By shifting away from standardized approaches to diversity and inclusion and toward tailored approaches that address each worker individually, this shift creates a more welcoming workplace for all employees. The results can improve productivity, mental and physical well-being and further build your company`s reputation for diversity.
Cultural Sensitivities
Cultural awareness in the workplace has never been more crucial. When working with clients from abroad or within your own city, cultural diversity needs to be taken into consideration when doing business. Understanding differences in culture is paramount if you wish to remain successful.
A lack of cultural awareness can leave employees feeling alienated from each other and less motivated to work, leading them down a path that could result in stress, anxiety, and depression for themselves and other employees in the organization.
Understanding and appreciating cultural diversity can be instrumental in building long-lasting relationships with partners, customers, and colleagues – not to mention expanding your market reach and increasing audience engagement through effective collaboration.
Creating Accessible and Inclusive Office Spaces
Implementing accessible and inclusive office spaces is integral to fulfilling your legal obligations for equal access, as it helps your business meet them more easily. Furthermore, accessible workplace environments also help improve employee retention rates, decrease staff turnover rates, and foster an inclusive working environment for all employees.
Design accessibility into every step of your design from the outset. Even small adjustments to layout can make a significant, impactful statement about how accessible and inclusive your space is for employees with disabilities, so exploring various strategies is worth investigating to adapt it further.
More than three decades after the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was put in place, there remains much room for improvement when it comes to designing spaces that are fully inclusive for people of all physical abilities.