M10: Focus Support

(1 point)

INTENT

Reduce distractions and enable focused work by integrating a stimuli management program within the building.

SUMMARY

This WELL feature requires projects to assess an organization’s work style, type of work, processes and space utilization to optimize employee satisfaction and productivity through workplace program and design.  

ISSUE

The physical work environment can make a profound difference on an employee’s ability to focus and manage work-related stress. Despite improvements on worker communication and ease of interaction, research has found that employees experience lower satisfaction and productivity, increased distraction and concentration difficulties, poorer health and overall decline in workspace satisfaction in open-plan offices compared to traditional, private offices. Many of these negative effects can be attributed to the impact of increased background noise and distraction on working memory, a brain process that is of critical importance when working on complex tasks and that declines when competing with background noise. The effects of office type are more pronounced depending on an individual’s need for concentration to complete their work, with individuals in need of high concentration experiencing greater distraction and more cognitive distress in open offices compared to cell or flex offices. Additionally, even in offices in which employees have high perceived privacy, irrelevant speech contributes to mental workload, poor performance, stress and fatigue. A lack of privacy and control over the work environment has been found to have negative impacts, as individuals experience psychological comfort from feelings of belonging, ownership and control over their workspace.

SOLUTIONS

Office layout can influence employee perceptions of and attitudes toward the organizational culture and work environment. While private offices are ideal for productivity, concentration, reduced stress and overall health, it is often infeasible to offer them to employees. However, workplaces that have an open-plan design can support employee health and well-being through innovative programs and design solutions. These strategies include design that allows individuals to adjust the environment according to personal preference and task requirements, thereby optimizing comfort and reducing the potential impact of environmental workspace stressors.

IMPACT

The work environment can have a significant impact on work performance and concentration by providing a variety of working environments that allow for both concentration and privacy, as well as collaboration and interaction.

REQUIREMENTS

Part 1

Assess Work Environment (1 point)

Verified by Policy Document, Professional Narrative

For All Spaces

The following requirements are met: 

1. The organization’s work processes and space utilization support focus and productivity among employees, and projects assess the work environment through at least one of the sources below:

   1. Occupant survey responses.
   2. Occupant interviews and/or focus groups.
   3. Observational research.

2. To support opportunities for focus at least two of the below are in place for all eligible employees:

   1. Process for requesting alternate workspace arrangements if assigned workstation does not meet occupant stimuli needs (e.g., too busy, loud or quiet). If physical or organizational constraints do not permit moving station, occupants are offered flexible working arrangements or work from home options.
   2. Designated quiet hours, zones or rooms during the workday.
   3. Stipend for or provision of noise-cancelling or noise-reducing headphones and/or earplugs.
   4. Day(s) of the week on which formal meetings are discouraged.
   5. Visual communication system to indicate do-not-disturb time (e.g., flag system).

Part 2

Integrate Space Management (1 point)

Verified by Architectural Drawing, Professional Narrative

For All Spaces

Seating and spatial layouts:

Projects incorporate the following into the organization of seating and spatial layout to provide differing degrees of sensory engagement:

1. Work zones that support a variety of work functions (e.g., quiet work, collaborative work).

2. Designated quiet zones provided as enclosable (e.g., small conference rooms, single-occupancy phone booths) or semi-enclosable (e.g., carrels) rooms with no more than three seats per room. 

3. Designated collaboration zones provided as enclosable or semi-enclosable rooms with no less than three seats and, at minimum, one visual vertical surface area for communicating ideas or work.

4. A system for booking or reserving enclosable quiet and collaboration zones.

Personal storage and organization:

Storage is provided to minimize clutter and support an organized environment through one or a combination of the following:

1. A workstation cabinet at a minimum volume of 0.1 m³ [4 ft³] for each regular occupant with a permanent, designated workstation.

2. A personal locker at a minimum volume of 0.1 m³ [4 ft³] for each regular occupant without a permanent workstation (e.g., offices with rotating desks or free address policies).

© International WELL Building Institute