Unfold the Box: Spatial Wellness in the Modern Workforce
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Date
2020-08
Authors
Byers, Sandra
Martin, Katherine
Summers, Lily
Fretz, Mark
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute for Health in the Built Environment, University of Oregon
Abstract
Our modern economy has transitioned into a service industry and manufacturing model where workers are expected to be creative, alert, and continuously function at a high cognitive level. Globalized commerce with company outposts around the world has blurred the boundaries of time zones and the traditional work day. Many previously physical tasks have now become mental tasks as technology changes how we work and employers are leveraging their investment in human resources by optimizing workplace environments to maximize the health and performance of their labor force. We spend the majority of our life indoors and finding time and space to recuperate throughout the day is critical to workplace morale, productivity and employee health. Employers are responding by offering spatial amenities such as private rooms for new mothers, nap-pods for jet-lagged business travelers, and yoga studios for increasingly sedentary employees, often without a comprehensive understanding of how the spaces are utilized or whether they are achieving their desired objectives. This white paper is focused on creation of wellness in the workplace through spatial design. Unfold the Box interrogates the history and development of spatial amenities in the workplace and envisions concepts for the modern workforce, translating research evidence into design.
Description
19 pages
Keywords
spatial wellness, workplace wellness, health and well-being, wellness room