Looking for a payback in office interiors? The best way to improve productivity is to plan a women’s bathroom renovation project.
It’s a strategy BSI’s Ralph Kuehn recommends to his clients, and it’s one that he swears by. For about $3,000 to $5,000, a firm can improve bathroom facilities — and employee productivity.
“Bathrooms are very personal,” Kuehn said. “Make them pleasant and comfortable, and you make your people happy.”
Kuehn took his cue from Standard Oil and McDonald’s. Both companies claimed to have the world’s cleanest bathrooms, so travelers would stop for the bathroom and stay to buy the product.
He suggests starting with the women’s bathroom, especially if a business is located in an older building. Buildings that date back to a time when few women worked likely do not have enough women’s facilities. A proper women’s bathroom should feature lots of tungsten lighting – never florescent. It should have enough countertop space and more than one sink. Stalls should be painted in a pleasant color and should include hooks for purses and jackets. Add flowers and bright paintings for a decorative touch. Installing sensors that turn lights on and off upon entry and exit will conserve energy.
“It’s so easy, and the payback is incredible,” Kuehn said.
— Heather Stur
July 25, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
