Why design for wellness?

This article argues for the importance of designing workplaces with employee wellness in mind.

Key points:

1. The human cost of poor working conditions is often invisible but substantial, with research suggesting workplace stressors contribute to excess deaths and significant healthcare costs.
2. Employee health and productivity are intrinsically linked through the "performance equation": performance = f(ability × motivation). Workplace conditions that compromise health affect both ability and motivation.
3. There are seven "enablers" of need satisfaction that can be translated into workplace design: physical and psychological comfort, social connection, equity/fairness, flexibility/control, predictability, visual and acoustic privacy, and physical and psychological safety and security.
4. Practical suggestions for implementing these enablers are provided, covering aspects such as office location, amenities, aesthetics, workstations, common areas, indoor environmental quality, and technology.
5. Designing for wellness benefits both employees and employers by maintaining employees' physical and psychological vitality, enabling them to do their best work—a necessary ingredient for organizational success.

The article concludes that promoting employee health and well-being through workplace design is not just beneficial for employees, but is also crucial for organizational success, making it a win-win strategy for both parties.