We’ve all grown more appreciative of the outdoor world since the pandemic, at work as well as in our home lives. And access to workplace al fresco areas has been cited as an increasingly popular trend and important concept in recent years by the likes of Work Design magazine and others.
The benefits of stepping outside each day are clear. Being closer to nature promotes feelings of calm and can also encourage people to be more creative and productive. Spending time under the sky reduces the risk of burnout, while providing a break from computer screens and the working environment. Your staff will seriously appreciate the chance to absorb natural light (thus boosting Vitamin D levels) and breathe fresh air during the working day.
You could also use the space outside your business for socialising and relaxing when the weather allows, for example at lunchtimes, and even for open-air meetings. You may well find that employees are more engaged and work better together away from their desks. Another idea is to allow outdoor working in the warmer months, for example on Friday afternoons. This should spark some positive energy and help teams enjoy a decent work-life balance.
So, although spring may seem a fair way off, it’s worth reassessing the outdoor areas at your place of work and considering how you could enhance them for when the weather starts to get better.
If you’re wondering how to improve your business’s outside spots, here are two ideas:
Fit some open-air gym equipment
Anyone can use a facility like this, whatever their age or fitness level. If your staff say they don’t have time to get to the gym, take the gym to them! Installing just a few pieces could yield a number of physical benefits, including muscle strength, cardio fitness, flexibility, balance and co-ordination. Outdoor gym equipment is cost-effective and low-maintenance, and can encourage team-building and greater interaction among colleagues. So invest in a happier, healthier, fitter, less stressed and more productive workforce.
Try a teak table
It goes without saying that a nicely furnished outdoor space makes the whole site look more appealing and will encourage people to use the al fresco area. Equally, if clients or others often visit, your open-air spots could provide an excellent first impression.
If you want to encourage working and meetings or lunch breaks under the sky, you’ll need a few tables where people can rest things, to add comfort and make the whole space look more completely furnished. (Chairs alone can’t do that.)
A teak table could be the perfect piece for a workplace setting. After all, this hardwood requires little to no upkeep and doesn’t need oiling or painting as other timbers do, meaning less work for your maintenance staff.
Teak items can stay out in all weathers, too – but you could protect pieces with a breathable cover if you wanted. What’s more, its low shrinkage rate means teak doesn’t warp, rot, crack or split, while its natural oils repel insects and water. Your table will stay looking gorgeous whatever the weather’s doing.
Finally, teak is the eco-friendly choice, since you can source it from responsibly managed forests, recycle and repurpose it and it can last for decades. So your table will need replacing very rarely, if at all.