As more UK companies tighten return to office (RTO) mandates, concerns about their impact on employee wellbeing continue to grow.
According to a recent LinkedIn poll, 38% of workers say news about stricter in-office policies is negatively affecting their mental health, with 42% of women and younger staff aged 20–29 feeling it most. Worryingly, a separate study shows over 80,000 professionals in Scotland have already quit their jobs in 2024 due to a lack of flexible working options.
At WOWVI Spaces, we believe there’s a better way forward, one that puts people at the heart of your return to office plans. It starts with one simple shift: rethinking office design for employee wellbeing.
Why Workspace Design Matters for Mental Health
Office design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about how people feel when they walk into work. A well-designed space can lower stress, support collaboration, and make the transition back to office life feel less like a demand and more like an opportunity.
Here’s how to support your team with practical, flexible workspace solutions:
1. Flexible Layouts That Support Every Workstyle
Not everyone thrives in the same environment.
Create multi-purpose zones for focused solo work, informal catch-ups, team brainstorming, and everything in between. WOWVI Tip: Use modular furniture and movable dividers to create a layout that evolves with your team.
2. Biophilic Design to Reduce Stress
Natural light, greenery, and earthy materials help bring calm and connection to the workplace. These small changes can significantly impact mood and productivity. WOWVI Tip: Incorporate living walls, potted plants, or timber finishes to instantly uplift your space.
3. Quiet Spaces for Focus and Recharge
Open-plan offices aren’t always conducive to deep work or decompression. Quiet rooms, pods, or wellness nooks allow people to retreat, recharge, or take sensitive calls in peace. WOWVI Tip: Invest in acoustic furniture or soundproof pods to give employees more control over their environment.
4. Wellness Zones That Encourage Movement
Physical wellbeing fuels mental wellbeing. From standing desks to stretch zones, movement-friendly design can help reduce burnout and boost energy. WOWVI Tip: Add a wellness corner for yoga, meditation, or just a quick breather between meetings.
5. Involve Your Team in the Process
Designing with, not just for, your people is a powerful way to increase engagement. Ask for input on what they need and what works for them. WOWVI Tip: Employee surveys or test layouts can make your team feel heard and valued.
Rethinking Office Design for Employee Wellbeing Is Good for Business
A return to the office doesn’t need to mean a return to old problems. With the right design strategy, your workplace can become a source of creativity, comfort, and culture. At WOWVI Spaces, we help businesses create work environments that people genuinely want to return to flexible, functional, and focused on wellbeing.
The future of work relies on spaces that prioritise mental health, flexibility, and collaboration. At WOWVI Spaces, we design offices that support employee wellbeing and help businesses thrive in a hybrid world.
Modular Office Design with Minimal Disruption
At WOWVI Spaces, we know that whether you’re a growing start up, an established corporate team, or anything in between, your business can’t afford unnecessary downtime. That’s why we use modular office design solutions that allow us to transform your workspace efficiently and with minimal disruption.
Our modular systems are quick to install, easy to reconfigure, and designed to work around your schedule. There’s no need for noisy construction or long closures, just smart, flexible upgrades that fit seamlessly into your working day.
Fast, clean, and adaptable – it’s workplace transformation made simple.
Part of the WOWVI Group
WOWVI Spaces is proud to be part of the WOWVI Group, which means our clients benefit from a broader creative offering. Alongside our commercial interiors expertise, the group delivers high-quality TV production, commercial video, podcast creation from WOWVI Video and print solutions from Active Print, all aligned under one clear brand vision. Think WOW. Create WOW. Deliver WOW.
