Eurostat data speaks clearly: Italians are among the most workaholic in Europe with an average of 49 hours of work per week. This is how a well-designed office can make your day more productive and help to keep a good work-life balance.
In Italy People Works More Hours than in the Rest of Europe
In Italy people works one day more than the hours foreseen by the standard timetable. This is what emerges from the Eurostat data reported by Rai News at the beginning of May. In fact, in 2023, one on ten workers said they spent an average of 49 hours a week in the office, which places the nation in a higher range than Europe, behind only Greece, France and Cyprus.
In fact, if the standard hours and the limits established by law vary between 36 and 40 hours per week, those who work in Italy continue to follow projects and carry out tasks for 9 hours more than normal. Managers are among the busiest categories in terms of hours, together with employees in the service and commercial sectors.
Too Much Time in the Office? Change the Layout
Longer working days often translate into a forced stay in the office, a place that ends up becoming “uncomfortable” if it is not designed to promote productivity and a sense of comfort. Modifying the planning of spaces, the design and the presence of natural elements, it is possible to change the work routine and drastically reduce the hours spent in front of the PC and in meetings.
Productivity, in fact, can be stimulated through flexible layouts, which facilitate the activity based working and allow workers to find the most suitable workstation for the task they are completing. For example, if it is concentration work, having a private office or an area separated acoustically from the rest of the space allows people to carry out the work more quickly without unnecessary distractions.
Level Office Landscape’s Advice for Spending the Right Amount of Time in the Office
To change the dynamics of the office it is necessary to start from the layout, identifying the main activities that each company department must carry out and thinking about a division of the space that takes into account both collaborative and individual work.
Divide Spaces in a Smart Way
Open spaces are efficient when people who work there actually benefit from relating to each other and not if they carry out activities that, for example, keep them constantly on the phone or in video conferences – disturbing the work of others.
Therefore, on the edges of open spaces it is a good idea to think of small private offices, separated by glass partitions that guarantee acoustic privacy, or to install phone booths where, if necessary, people can isolate themselves.
Meeting rooms must be well organized with a fast connection, screens that allow workers to project presentations, connect the PC and ergonomic seats. Private offices and executive areas must allow managers to concentrate on carrying out daily tasks, thanks to large desks and comfortable seats.
Integrate Natural Elements
For years now, it is proved that the contact with nature can have a positive impact on health. Having visual contact with natural elements such as plants or green walls has been proven to increase productivity at work by 15%. This is why, when possible, the advice is to integrate nature into the office.
Design Bright Environments
Finally, light also plays a crucial role workers’ wellbeing in the office. While the supply of natural light should be encouraged, so that the body always remains connected with the circadian rhythm, on the other hand this principle is not always applicable due to architectural limitations. Adopting elements such as glass partition walls is certainly a solution to try to get the most benefit even in offices far from perimeter windows.
Artificial lighting, however, must be well calibrated to avoid tiring the eyes and allow activities to be carried out quickly, without forcing the worker to spend too much time in the office. The diffused ambient lights must therefore be accompanied by specific lighting on the work surfaces, to be activated when necessary.
Make the Office More Productive with Level Office Landscape
To apply all these design strategies, contact Level Office Landscape, a company in Valletta Brianza specialized in workplace design. The technical office, in synergy with the art director, is able to create customized projects by listening to the needs of the company and workers. Request a free quote by filling out this form, or call +39 039 9284831.