Traditionally, ergonomics has been linked to studying posture, handling materials, and preventing musculoskeletal injuries. However, its scope is now known to be wider and holistic, including cognitive and organizational aspects as well.
Cognitive ergonomics looks into how mental effort, reasoning, and concentration affect employee performance, while organizational ergonomics explores broader factors like human resources management and company culture, with all of them directly impacting employee’s engagement.
Actually, employee engagement is crucial for organizational success. Research shows a strong link between engagement, productivity, and employee well-being. Investing in ergonomics doesn’t just improve physical comfort but also boosts engagement levels. This creates a positive cycle of productivity and satisfaction. Building a culture that values well-being, ergonomic design, work-life balance, and employee recognition can boost engagement and propel organizational success.
Taking Blip, a leading technology company in Porto, as an example, actions to promote cognitive and organizational dimensions hold structural importance throughout its operation. Besides rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach, the company encourages the development of internal communities, such as football, pilates, yoga, surfing, padel, enology, climbing or motorcycling, among many others. Through these diverse communities, not only does Blip facilitate more effective and differentiated onboarding for new employees, but it also enables them to integrate with groups sharing common interests and forging stronger bonds with their peers. While some of these communities focus more on the physical dimension, others are pretty focused on social gathering, but all of them are at the cornerstone of the cognitive dimension.
A good example of promoting a better workspace environment is to offer working areas designed to accommodate both collaborative and individual tasks. While some may prefer working amidst the chaos, others with a more introverted profile may prefer a more secluded space, so offering both appears to be a positive thing at Blip. Therefore, and because we’re all different, providing options is important because people look for different things and environments when at work. Initiatives like massage rooms, nap rooms, relaxation areas, gaming spaces, pet-friendly policies, or providing a team budget for teambuildings reflect Blip’s commitment to addressing the physical, cognitive, and organizational dimensions of ergonomics. These practices contribute to increased engagement and foster a happier and more balanced work environment.
In an era where remote work is increasingly prevalent, applying these principles becomes even more relevant as work environments extend beyond physical office spaces.
Wouldn’t everyone want to work for a company like that? Talent is the most valuable asset of modern companies, so we must create sustainable environments where everyone feel valued and happy.
In a nutshell, ergonomics embodies a comprehensive approach to workplace design that prioritises employee well-being and productivity. By addressing physical, cognitive, and organizational aspects, organizations can create environments that promote employee health, engagement, and overall job satisfaction and well-being. As we navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, a holistic approach to ergonomics emerges as a cornerstone of organizational success in fostering resilient and high-performing teams.
By Diogo Cruz, Workspace Cluster Lead of Flutter & Leadership Team member of Blip
