Create an office your staff want to return to

Headlines are focused on companies pulling staff back into the office for a minimum of three days a week. Big names like Asda, Amazon, JD, Boots, Barclays and more. Many businesses are now looking at ways to create a more inviting work environment that staff want to return to.

Stuart Wall, Design Director for specialist commercial design and fit-out company APSS looks at how transforming your office can encourage your staff back into the office.

Focusing on staff needs is key if you want them to actually want to return to the office. Flexible working spaces, creating that tie to nature and putting staff wellness at the heart of your office design are all part of creating a great workplace culture.

Wellness-Centred, Human-Led Design

“Companies that understand how their office space needs to evolve will be successful in helping staff be more productive and efficient, ultimately helping the business thrive. Making spaces feel good, work well, and look great for your team to enjoy, encourages productivity, efficiency and a positive culture,” Stuart explained.

With an increased focus on employee well-being and mental health in the workplace, companies need to create that perfect resimercial workspace – providing a more comfortable way of working and collaborating with colleagues which doesn’t include being chained to a specific desk.

Maximising natural light and adding biophilic elements into your office can be a relatively simple upgrade to your working environment.

We are seeing a lot of customers now incorporating green walls, planter storage units, water fountains and natural touches that bring nature inside – creating a calm and refreshing vibe. This has been a tried and tested way to improve employee health and well-being, boost productivity and creativity, and create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly environment.

Your staff are the heart of the company

One of the big concerns for staff returning to the office is work-life balance, so employers are now looking at how to help make that easier for staff. By providing more facilities for staff on-site, they can maximise their rest period. Incorporating the following can really help boost morale:

• Wellness Rooms: Whether providing a space for prayer, meditation or just a quiet room for contemplation, multipurpose wellness rooms are becoming very popular. Offering your staff this space to get away, gives them the chance to decompress. A wellness room provides the space they need to be able to take care of themselves.
• Gyms: Enabling staff to exercise regularly has huge mental health and productivity benefits. Gyms don’t have to be huge, if you have an unused storage space you can do a lot with it to create the perfect exercise environment. (We have a small gym in our office with a weights machine, treadmill, cross trainer and exercise bike and it is used daily by many of our staff).
• Coffee Shop Vibes: Comfy seating, good coffee, and a laid-back feel make this space great for work, client meetings or breakout spaces.
• Social Hubs: Perfect for meeting people you don’t normally work with or catching up with teammates.

Moving between different spaces during the day can help keep energy and focus levels high. By rethinking the office café, companies are creating spaces that work hard and feel good at the same time.

Keep Things Flexible

Flexibility is the key. Offices are being designed to suit all kinds of work styles and group sizes. Adaptability is fundamental to making the best use of your space.

• Modular Furniture: These tables and chairs allow you to rearrange the space to fit any group or meeting style.
• Informal Meeting Spaces: Stools and casual setups make brainstorming sessions less rigid and more fun.
• Task-Based Zones: Quiet zones for deep focus, collaborative spaces for team projects, video conferencing areas and everything in between.
• Moveable Walls and Dividers: Big spaces that can be quickly adjusted to fit the moment—great for events or breakout sessions.

These spaces are designed to adapt, making your office space work every hour of the day.

When people feel comfortable, they work better. These thoughtful designs aren’t just pretty, they’re practical and powerful. When employee wellbeing is one of your top priorities, it breeds a positive work culture that can continue to grow and expand. As Richard Branson, CEO and founder of Virgin Group said: “Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”

Offices need to be places people want to be. With a focus on wellness, flexibility, and performance, these spaces are about supporting teams and inspiring creativity. It’s about businesses making their offices work for their staff.