How Inclusive Workspaces Boost Connection And Drive Business Success

In 2023, a poll of thousands of working Americans found that more than half (56%) viewed efforts to promote DEI in the workplace positively. Leaders know this, which is why 80% of organizations say they’re committed to moving forward with their DEI initiatives. Yet many companies still haven’t taken DEI to the next level by embracing inclusive workspace design.

Inclusive workspace design involves constructing spaces that foster equity and accessibility. It serves a major purpose in offering a welcoming atmosphere to all. After all, design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality. With the right physical elements, you can create a physical space that supports your DEI mission, beliefs, and programs.

This isn’t just about following regulatory expectations (e.g., having ADA-compliant doorway widths). Inclusive workspace design strives to find ways to increase employee belonging and performance by creating spaces that cater to diverse abilities, backgrounds, and needs. Essentially, your workplace becomes a location where DEI isn’t just embedded in your processes; it’s embedded in your culture via the surroundings.

With inclusive workspace design, you can begin to break down barriers between your team members. In turn, this will help you meet goals and drive your business forward. To understand how inclusive workspace design removes performance roadblocks, consider its many benefits.

1. Promotes Wellness

Today, many workers say they want to be able to bring their whole selves to work. But that’s hard to do in a space that’s not meant to make people feel valued or empowered. Inclusive workspace design aims to help people show up more authentically at the office. Rather than having to pretend, they can be who they are—and that’s good for their mental health.

Take working parents, for example. Many may want to bring their kids to the office from time to time. Having a small play area on site with commercial playground equipment can help them feel less uneasy about having their children tag along. As AAA State of Play explains, you may want to include accessible, fun pieces as well. Giving parents a place to recharge with their kids, before heading back to work, can remove guilt or stress around them bringing their little ones to the job.

Yoga and meditation rooms are also an option. According to Built In, many successful companies from tech startups to legacy corporations offer meditation spaces for their team members. These are places where employees can go to refresh, release tension, and hopefully ward off burnout.

2. Enhances Individual and Team Creativity

Most office spaces aren’t dynamic or exciting. The majority tend to be a bit dull and uninspired. How, then, are your team members supposed to come up with innovative brainstorms if you don’t have imaginative areas?

Wayfair has solved this issue with its Boston headquarters building. Throughout the building, spaces are designed with collaboration in mind. Plus, they’re furnished with items that mimic residential layouts. These elements invite fresh ideas because the space is decidedly chic without being traditionally static and staid.

This doesn’t mean that you have to revamp all your rooms. However, it’s never a bad thing to ask yourself if your workplace sparks creativity among all your people. If it doesn’t, think about ways you could reimagine your different working areas to encourage innovative thinking.

3. Reduces Employee Turnover By Increasing Engagement

Employees leave their employers for many reasons, including the feeling of loneliness. A recent article on why good workers quit their jobs highlighted the importance of employees feeling connected—a challenge that’s especially difficult for remote teams. Yet it also can be hard for employees who are in isolated office spaces.

With inclusive workplace design, you can make it easier for employees to interact with each other. Even if their offices or desks aren’t near one another, they may be more apt to have encounters based on the way the office footprint is arranged.

As workers get to know one another, they form relationships. The stronger those bonds grow, the less likely workers are to leave. In fact, a 2024 Gallup poll discovered that a key ingredient to overall improved employee engagement and higher levels of employee retention was the existence of important work-related friendships.

To get DEI right, you have to think beyond the obvious. Inclusive workplace design is one solution to close DEI gaps, get your people communicating with each other, and ensure all your team members are working toward common visions.