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Ensuring workers are equipped with their own office supplies could be a way of meeting their needs and reducing stress in an office environment.
Carole Spiers, author of Show Stress Who's Boss, explained that a change of scenery can be helpful in boosting morale among a gloomy post-Christmas workforce, so altering the layout of the office could be something for managers to think about
Other methods of limiting stress in a working environment are to introduce flexible working and shift employees around so that they are sitting near people they get on well with.
"Potted plants and some green in the office should help people - it may sound trite to say, but you can put a fish tank there and actually have something living," she pointed out.
"The boss can use one of her team building sessions to make amendments to the office - it could be a coat of paint, some green plants, it could be different chairs if somebody has a chair that's really old and hurting their back."
Ms Spiers noted that reducing stress among workers is about communication - asking the team what kind of changes they would make to the office if they were in charge, or even asking employees to fill in a questionnaire about their needs.
Her advice followed research by Ambius and the University of Exeter that found employers who consult staff about their workplace and allow a degree of personalisation can improve levels of motivation.
This could encourage some bosses to invest in personalised office stationery for their workers or allow them to bring in objects from home to make their workspace more inviting.
"These are simple things - they're really not expensive. It's somebody thinking 'we care for the office,' and what I would say is that organisations need to try to make their offices like a family or community - it is a community," added Ms Spiers.