Work related stress and mental health often go together.

Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 11.3 million lost working days in 2014 due to work-related ill health. An office space designed with employees in mind can be a less stressful environment.

Providing a workplace with lots of natural light, communal spaces and adding a bit of greenery can go a long way to improving employee wellbeing and reducing stress. Communal spaces will also encourage a more relaxed approach to work.

To really be effective, however, we need to have a holistic approach; looking at not just the physical environment but corporate culture, management style, flexible working hours and employee wellness programmes.

Offices need to be designed with employees in mind to create a stimulating environment and engaging, nurturing culture – a true ’employee centric workspace’.

Further reading:

NHS guide on how to beat stress, anxiety and depression at work
A comprehensive and detailed guide on mental health and the workplace
NHS recommendations on how to handle returning to work after recovering from mental illness
With unlimited vacation, when will the work get done?