What could your office do to improve your working day?

[Biancadelriosback]

I've recently been given an office building to run. I have some relevant experience however it's always been as part of a brand with brand standards. Now I actually have freedom to do things. So I'm looking for some inspiration.
The building will be occupied by different companies and will be premium. So I'm looking at things like free networking events, high-end tea and coffee facilities, free fresh fruit etc so yeah! Just after some ideas :)

At my old office, you could do your shopping online and get it delivered. There were fridges and freezers to store it in, and you'd pick it up as you left.
There was a dry cleaning and a laundry service, and they got a discount for bulk.

My most recent office was open plan but we had flex rooms to make calls in and work in if we were struggling to concentrate. That was good.

It was also warm which was nice in winter but the cooling element really didnt work in the summer.

Good tea and coffee on hand.

Our office building offers yoga twice a week at end of work day (about 5.30ish) for an hour. We pay £2 a class and it great, we are lucky they have the space to run it in very well received.

This is great thanks!
So everything is brand new inside and the building has been custom built so natural day light, top of the range air circulation unit (eco friendly), connectivity is second to none, bean to cup coffee machine, eco friendly tea bags, coffee beans from a local independent coffee supplier, shower facilities provided, lovely toiletries (including shampoo, conditioned and body wash- again, locally sourced), bike shed, oven and hob, dish washer, daily cleaner but we can't to parking! There is no space available, best I can do is a deal with the local NCP but that's still costing over £1k per year per pass. I like the idea of free sanitary products, magazines, newspapers and fresh fruit deliveries! Definitely need to look at private call spaces. Someone mentioned standing desks? Is this a sought after thing?

Comfortable lounge seating next to windows for break times
Outdoor roof terrace if possible
Molton Brown or similar in bathrooms
Drinking water tap to refill water bottles
No noisy hand dryers in bathrooms
Shower and (a big ask - towel service) as it's a pain to carry wet towels home)
Good lighting - not fluorescent strips. Daylight bulbs if possible, mixed with ambient and task lighting.

Informal meeting spaces ("break out areas" ) to avoid people having to meet at desks and disturb everyone around them

Proper meeting rooms with an accessible booking system

Free fruit

Good tea, coffee and water facilities

Well stocked stationery cupboards

Printers that work

Decent lighting and air con

Coat stands so people don't have to hang them on their chairs

Plenty of bins - rubbish and confidential waste

No no no to standing desks. It is not well sought after.

Forgot to mention the instand boiling and chilled water tap! So refill station for water.
We have meeting rooms and break out areas but these are near the desks so maybe that was a bad shout....

Dog friendly or no?

No. Dogs do not belong in the workplace.

No dogs!

Being able to have parcels delivered would be great, and I'd like lockers if people hot desk. Coat stands are also a good idea.

I really want decent chairs more than anything else. I want armrests that can be adjusted in height and how far forward they sit. I want to adjust the lumbar support, and I don't want anything above the shoulders because I'm inevitably too short for that to fit right and it just gives me a crick in my neck. I like mesh seats, as they are comfy and breathable. That's a lot of wants :p

I'd like an adjustable standing/sitting desk, but I think the motors can be unreliable. In our office lots of people sit at them so those that want to stand can't use them.

I don't care about the fancy stuff, and if dogs were there I wouldn't be.

But, comfortable desk set up is a must. Not under air con units, large enough to tuck my chair and legs under, lockable drawers, adjustable stand for my laptop.

Fully sheltered cycle parking & a good shower.
Windows, natural light, nice views.
Not hot desking.
Parking spaces that cost

No dogs. For the last time no dogs.

Not everyone likes pets. People are allergic. If you dont want me to turn up to work then fine.

Check out “well”building standards

No dogs or any animals! No no no.

Also decent kitchen facilities with so no need for microwaves or hot food in actual office space as they stink it out.

Private rooms/work spaces if open plan for people who like/need to work quietly or deal with something sensitive without hiding out in a corridor!

My biggest bugbear at work is lack of meeting rooms. People block book them and forget to cancel. Grr!

Definitely a good coffee machine.
Have the cleaner clean the microwave and inside the fridge as part of their contract perhaps ? Always causes aggro when one lazy person doesn’t clean up after themselves.

Free tampons etc in toilets
Free fruit and Friday cakes or biscuits.
A few large plants.

No dogs.

We were allowed dogs in our office until a new employee arrived and was allergic. No dogs now.

A dishwasher. Crockery Jenga is a feature of our office with 30 staff, as everyone thinks that there's washing up fairies to hand wash the cups.

Definitely no dogs - allergies!

Agree with PP about meeting rooms.

One of the most important things IMO is that people need to have some personal control. For example, people are comfortable at different temperatures from each other. Top of the range air-con is great but who decides on the setting? Staff need to be able to adjust it locally and open or shut windows, raise or lower blinds etc.

I bought an ice maker for my last office. Was very popular in the hot summer.

@bestseller this stress survey you've done...is this available to read or is this something internally for your office?

Okay, no dogs it is!
These are great btw!

Meeting rooms will be chargeable when pre-booked but free on the day. So if you need to guarantee the room you have to pay, if you can take the risk you get it for free or if you have an impromptu meeting and it's not in use, we won't charge you for it. Does that sound fair?