When it comes to arranging a modern office workstation, you don’t have the luxury of just throwing some things together without giving thought to comfort or productivity. For the employee who spends eight hours a day at their workstation, getting the most out of their work day takes careful consideration. The following list of the five best office workstations will give you a basic idea of some of the office plans that could work together to make the ideal work station:

* Comfort: The planner who designs a workstation for the comfort of the employees is using his expertise to his advantage. If the work space is ergonomically correct, you can expect a higher quality and quantity of work from your employees. Each workstation should be measured and planned according to the height and weight of each employee. The chairs should be swivel models, and easy on the back. The distance between the keyboard and employee should be measured as well, to ensure that they will not be susceptible to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Tendenitis.

* Computer Settings: You want to make sure that the brightness of the computer monitor is easy on the eyes. The size of the monitor is important as well. If your employees are going to be using the computer for long hours everyday, then a large screen is recommended, so the images can be viewed quickly and correctly without straining the eyes.

* Cubby Set Up: Offices no longer design their work space for their employees in small isolated cubby spaces. Time has proven that this setup which was originally designed for privacy and a higher quantity of work, are not effective or productive. Today’s modern cubby spaces are more open, allowing the employees to feel like they are part of a team.

Headsets: Time has proven to be an enemy for workers who have to hand hold their telephones. Invest in headsets for your employees, and this will not only add to the comfort level, but it will also save you a bundle, since you won’t have worker’s compensation claims for the medical conditions your workers suffer when they are not provided with a hand-free telephone system.

Storage Space: It’s critical to ensure that each work station has sufficient storage capacity. This will result in a desktop that is free of clutter, and an employee who is more productive and organized, resulting in higher quanity and quality of work.

If you work in an office then chances are that you know what stuffy air feels like. Office space, coupled with the high population of workers and long hours, has the potential to begin to feel and smell quite stale. The technical reason for this is that as the workers breath, they breath in the fresh oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide. A room filled with carbon dioxide makes people feel claustrophobic and enhances anxiety. One solution to this issue is to introduce several office plants to the space.

Plants breath carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen therefore having a purifying effect on office air. In addition to plants having a scientific benefit to an office, they also have the ability to soften the look of a bright, unnatural fluorescently lit office. Hang some from the ceiling and encourage workers to put plants on their desks for decoration. Office plants also have the ability to improve productivity because of the oxygen enriched air they emit.

Another benefit of plants in the office is that they have the ability reduce the noise level. If you work in an office where there is lots of marble structures or concrete floors, plants will work to absorb and diffuse noise, making the office a more relaxing place to be. Besides noise reduction, plants also keep humidity at a perfect and comfortable level. People who spend large amounts of time in dry air environments have been known to be more susceptible to the cold and flu. If plants are controlling the humidity of the office air, fewer workers will fall ill which means greater productivity for the company.

Finally, studies have shown that plants absorb dangerous toxins, such as those emitted from computers or copiers. This may not have been something that people consider, but office equipment is quite dangerous when in small, unventilated rooms. Plants can work to curb the amount of toxins in the air that employees are breathing.

Indeed, not only do plants improve the appearance of an office, but they have many health benefits for employees that are there on a daily basis. Studies have shown many lasting benefits of making an office a greener place.