One of the most commonly heard buzzwords when we talk about the workplace is “employee engagement”. It’s not surprising, really. Studies like the one done by Harvard Business Review show that when employees are engaged, that is to say, enthusiastic and commitment to their work, there is an increase in productivity and performance, and a reduction to hiring and retention costs.

This sounds like something that every company wants or needs, doesn’t it? Yet, with all the talk about it, only about 32% of employees in the workforce feel “engaged”, according to a 2015 Gallup survey. Worse yet, the same survey showed that more than half of those surveyed felt “not engaged” and as many as 17% were “actively disengaged”. It’s estimated that this could result in losses of productivity of roughly %500 billion per year. Thus, it’s crucial to understand what the factors are that result in this loss of interest and productivity in the workforce.

One of the most important factors to consider is the design of the office space itself. More businesses are finding that work environment design contributes heavily to productivity and morale, as well as the overall culture of your company. Moreover, office design is continually found to affect your employees’ well-being and even physical health.

Let’s look at a few of the areas in which your design choices can foster more of an environment of productivity and happiness.

Create a space where people want to come to work.

Rapid advances in digital communications and mobile technologies have changed much of our lives, and the workplace is certainly no exception. Fewer employees need to spend 40 hours each week at their desk in the office. But there are some activities and functions that require a physical presence in the office, so make the environment one that people will actually look forward to coming to. As there are still advantages to doing some types of collaboration and interaction that work better when your staff are in the same location, design your office to include spaces that encourage communication and cooperative work.

But include private space as well.

While there’s a lot of talk about the open office design, the jury is still out as to how valuable this setup may actually turn out to be. It’s important to be equipped for collaboration in the work environment, but the truth is that most employees don’t need to be in that type of space all day long. Some work is best done in solitary, quiet focus, and some personality types will be more productive in that type of environment in any event. Be sure to develop and office design that has a variety of workspaces, including sufficient personal space for the times it will be needed.

Remember ergonomics.

Ergonomics is another common buzzword in today’s work environments. It refers to design which improves the conditions we work in, focusing on factors like efficiency, safety, and comfort. Utilizing ergonomic design elements like more efficient office furniture layout improves productivity and morale. Failing to plan ergonomically means putting your employees at risk of discomfort and strain due to poorly designed workspaces.

In conclusion, while every company is different, a well-planned office design can be expected to improve employee engagement, productivity, and ultimately increase your profitability as well.