Sunday mornings tend to be pretty hectic in our household. Dog walking, rugby training, weekly shopping, that kind of stuff – all pretty mundane but essential activities. And for me, it usually involves coaching and managing my local U16 girls football team. (That’s just a tenuous/gratuitous piece of information to enable the use of the headline that will be lost on many anyway!).

Before heading off to run training, I was relaxing in ‘my’ armchair with a freshly brewed coffee, the Neom diffuser vaping away behind me, music on in the background and my iPad in hand. Happy times. I was reading through some articles and documents I’d saved during the week to dip into in a bit more detail. And one caught my interest more than the others. Listed at No.2 in the WORKTECH Academy, The World of Work in 2024: top trends for the year ahead was titled, ‘Scented Space – offices will seek branded olfactory options’.

Olfactory (of or relating to the sense of smell, just to save you the time) options in offices? Is that a thing? Really? Reading on, the reasoning for having some common scents (sry!) in the office environment isn’t that radical. Scientific experiments have consistently evidenced the link between aromas of lavender and feeling relaxed, rosemary for memory performance and orange to reduce anxiety. The use of different smells in specific workspaces seems logical. A consistent waft of rose oil in a quiet area will help release endorphins to increase feelings of well-being.

Perhaps my Sunday relaxation was more to do with the aroma of ylang ylang, frankincense and patchouli than the coffee, the music or ‘my’ armchair. Now, you may have noticed that I have referenced ownership of the armchair twice. I recognise that I can be overly possessive or territorial of it and will confess that we frequently have family ‘Chairgate’ situations! The Chair; the widest, most comfortable one situated in the best place for television viewing is the prize. It’s the one that suits the physical environment best. Does what it needs to. And does it very well. Fit for purpose. Conducive for achieving best enjoyment results. Not to be shared. My preferred space.

The same ‘ownership’ of physical space happens in workplace environments. The claim for the corner office, the newest delivery van from the fleet, checkout number 7, the desk closest to the snacks and coffee machine, the chair with the best lumbar support set up and so on.
With so much talk about return to offices, now is the right time to really think about what the physical environment means to employees:

• Is it an inclusive and accessible physical environment that supports diverse, cultural, spiritual and physical needs?
• Does it provide the platform for a positive and supportive emotional environment?
• Is it safe and secure?
• Does the workspace layout provide flexibility and adaptability to different working conditions (formal/informal, individual / collaborative etc.)?
• Is it comfortable for all – heating, lighting, ventilation and noise?
• Does it have the facilities to support individual requirements as well as health and well-being?

These criteria don’t just apply to corporate offices. They are relevant to home workers, hybrid workers, field-based employees, labourers, shift workers, zero-hours contractors and temporary staff.

The value of an effective physical environment has a strong impact on a company’s reputation, guides alignment to the brand and is a focal point for communities and stakeholders. It also has significance for employer reputation. It’s the meeting place, the engine room, the heart of the organisation, the social hub and where employees connect to the brand, its identity, culture and values. Providing a physical environment that works for everyone is a real challenge and requires thought and investment.

My sense is a bergamot air freshener in the company van may help reduce the potential for road rage but it may not drive long term employee satisfaction, engagement and performance. That’s where employer reputation takes the wheel.

If you’d like to find out more about how to manage your reputation as an employer, visit www.ceriph.co.uk