With one in four people experiencing a mental health problem in any given year, the issue has rapidly scaled the social and political agenda. 

Meanwhile ACAS estimates that mental health problems are costing UK businesses £30 billion a year through lost productivity and the cost of replacing staff. So on World Mental Health Day (10th October) are workplaces doing enough to safeguard staff wellbeing? According to Shaun Baker, Head of Crown Workplace Relocations, employers can take some simple steps to make the physical working environment a more mindful place for employees. “It doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to make changes to your workplace to help lift the mood. Our research has found that it’s the simple things in life which top staff wish lists”, says Baker.

Crown Workplace Relocations recently commissioned a survey amongst employers and employees, asking which factors which would most improve their wellbeing. One in five (22 percent) of those polled said office clutter bothers them, while over a third (37 percent) said more natural light would make them feel healthier and happier at work. “In its simplest form, de-cluttering and redecorating can have a positive effect on morale and encourage fresh thinking. But, with a little more thought, much more can be achieved to improve staff morale and wellbeing – and with that comes increased productivity”, Baker says.

On World Mental Health Day, here are Crown Workplace Relocations’ top tips for improving staff wellbeing:  

1. Consider your office design: The furniture and colour of an office can lift the mood. Create an inviting office that is modern and fits the brand personality.

2. Install break-out areas: Rest breaks help improve productivity. Provide staff with an area away from their desks where they can eat, relax and socialise.

3. Encourage fitness: Exercise helps boost brain power. Consider fitting bike racks and showers to inspire people to cycle, run or walk to work. 

4. Let the light in: Natural light aids concentration. Avoid placing things in front of windows and blocking out the light – unless it shines directly on someone’s computer screen. If adding or enlarging windows or skylights isn’t possible, make sure artificial light is of high quality and mimics natural light as a much as possible.

5. Create private areas: Open plan often doesn’t reflect the modern desire for privacy and can heighten anxiety. And just as importantly it doesn’t provide an environment in which people can concentrate and get their job done.

6. Take a different approach to meetings: Being stuck in a stuffy board room is not very inspiring. Create more intimate meeting zones and put tables and chairs outside when the weather is warm. 

7. Be clutter-free: An office without piles of paperwork can help organise minds. Encourage a clear desk policy and move overflowing filing cabinets into the cloud.

8. Listen to your staff: A happy, enthusiastic workforce is key to business success. Before introducing anything, undertake workplace surveys to find out what employees want from their office environment. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money.