Five Ways to Transform Workplace Design for Employee Engagement and Wellbeing
Office design is more than just aesthetics—it’s a strategic tool for fostering employee engagement, wellbeing, and productivity. Studies show that well-designed workspaces can boost productivity by up to 20% and significantly reduce stress, while 90% of employees say their office environment directly impacts their job satisfaction (Leesman Index, 2022). Employers prioritising flexible, collaborative, and wellness-focused workspaces see measurable benefits in employee retention and innovation.
At Cultures That Pop, we create work environments that enhance company culture and empower employees. This case study looks at the profound impact of thoughtful workplace design and how we supported the rollout of a workplace design that really rocked.
Case Study: Reimaging the Workspace to Embrace Hybrid Working
A global tech company faced significant workplace engagement and collaboration challenges due to fragmented office spaces and an outdated environment. You know the drill: fixed desks, out-dated design, poorly thought through environment; employees reported inefficiencies, disengagement, and difficulty fostering a cohesive culture across departments. Leadership recognised the need to reimagine their workspace to enhance collaboration, innovation, and employee wellbeing.
Cultures That POP helped transform the workspace into a dynamic, flexible, and employee-centric environment. Our team joined forces with a fantastic interior design team. While they focused on delivering the design and outfit, we focused on strategy, internal communications, and engaging employees in this huge change project.
Working together, we centred our efforts around five key objectives:
Building Culture – Spaces that reflect company values, promote collaboration, and foster a strong sense of belonging.
Connecting People – Seamless integration of digital tools and thoughtfully designed common areas to enhance teamwork and communication.
Showcasing Brand Identity – Office aesthetics and messaging aligned with corporate branding to create a unified experience.
Enabling Success – A diverse range of spaces tailored to different work modes, supporting individual focus and group collaboration.
Supporting Flexibility – A hybrid-friendly approach with adaptable workspaces catering to various working styles and needs.
Engaging Employees In The Implementation
We adopted an inclusive change management approach to ensure a smooth transition, engaging employees at every step. Key elements of the strategy included:
Work Mode Design: Eight distinct work modes were developed, ensuring every employee had a space suited to their tasks—whether for deep focus, collaboration, or informal interactions.
Change Champions Program: Employees were empowered as ambassadors to facilitate smooth adaptation to the new spaces.
Employee-Centric Design: Thoughtful amenities such as relaxation areas, collaboration hubs, and wellness-focused spaces were integrated to support holistic employee wellbeing.
Innovative Meeting and Social Spaces: The introduction of multipurpose rooms, creative brainstorming areas, and digital-first meeting solutions fostered seamless communication across global teams.
Big Investment, Big Results
The transformation delivered ace outcomes, employees scored:
9.2/10 for creating a flexible and hybrid-friendly environment.
9.4/10 for enhancing collaboration.
8.9/10 for enabling them to do their best work.
9.5/10 for providing a COVID-safe workplace.
This workplace transformation enhanced engagement and strengthened company culture, making the office a place employees genuinely enjoy coming to—a vital element in today’s hybrid work era. With the environment being designed to enhance the employee experience and to enable everyone at work, the hybrid strategy was able to land with impact.
So, if you’re thinking about creating an impactful, engaging and productive environment, here are our five tips to get you started…
Understand Work Modes – Identify how your employees work best and design spaces that support different tasks and interactions.
Prioritise Employee Wellbeing – Include wellness-focused elements such as quiet zones, greenery, and ergonomic workstations.
Encourage Flexibility – Offer a variety of workspaces to support hybrid and agile working models.
Involve Employees Early – Engage your team in the design process to foster a sense of ownership and ease the transition.
Think Technology – Integrate digital tools to ensure seamless collaboration, regardless of location.
Let’s Transform Your Workplace Together
A well-designed office isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a thriving, engaged workforce. If you’re ready to reimagine your workspace and boost productivity, we’re here to help.
At Cultures That POP, we understand the delicate balance between culture, engagement, and workplace design. We customise workplace strategies to align with your company’s unique culture and goals. With over 20 years of experience in employer branding and internal communications and a team that understands growth strategy and has lived it, we know the tricks that ensure a smooth transition to new ways of working.
Our blend of expertise means we bring fresh, creative ideas that make workspaces inspiring, engaging and effective. Let’s chat and explore how we can turn your workspace into one of them!
