Physical workplace

Many workplaces are still designed and optimised for the male body, which creates an inferior working environment for many women and non-binary people. This can be about the sizes and shapes of furniture, the indoor climate, or a lack of functionality in the office. Furniture or tools may be too large for comfort and ease of use, toilets may not accommodate menstruating people, and indoor climates are often adjusted to male standards, resulting in discomfort for many women and non-binary people.

Luckily, physical workplace challenges can be solved relatively easily. The first step is awareness, followed – importantly – by collecting insights and preferences from women and non-binary coworkers to start co-creating an inclusive physical workplace.

Office design

All people have different needs and preferences regarding their ideal work environment. Some need a calm, secluded workplace and others need an open, communicative space in order to perform best. In some phases of life, special facilities such as a breastfeeding/milk pumping room or a nap room can facilitate employees' lives and contribute to mental and physical well-being. Diverse, flexible and inclusive office spaces are needed in order to cater to many different needs and create a welcoming and healthy workplace. Involving employees in a co-creation process can help address everyone’s needs and reach a higher satisfaction level through avoiding gender bias in the office design. 

  • ◦ Have a breast-feeding/milk-pumping/infant room for young parents in order to allow for flexible integration parental leave/working time

    ◦ Create a multipurpose room with variety of games and activities suitable for different interests

    ◦ Create a meditation room that has facilities that support all faith requirements

  • ◦ How to design an inclusive workspace

Thermal comfort

Thermal comfort is highly individual and depends on different factors such as air flow, room temperature, and a persons’ metabolism, which makes it difficult to measure and also to satisfy everyone. As metabolism rates are higher on average for male than female bodies, inattentive indoor climate design can result in higher discomfort for one gender. Studies have shown that overcooling is a common problem in many offices, leading to excessive energy use and higher levels of discomfort for women.

When setting the indoor climate, thermal comfort can be optimised by creating different thermal zones, adjusting the indoor temperature according to the season (warmer in summer, colder in winter) as well as providing tools like fans and blankets to individually adjust the temperature.

  • ◦ Provide different thermal zones if possible

    ◦ Provide equipment to individually adjust for thermal comfort, for example blankets, desktop warmers, fans

    ◦ Check office temperatures and adjust to season

  • ◦ Thermal zoning

Furniture and ergonomics

Depending on body size and form, very different kinds of furniture may be comfortable and ergonomic or not. Often we only consider a mid-size person when furnishing spaces, causing problems for everyone who does not fit that perceived norm. By prioritising ergonomic inclusivity, companies can reduce health risks, boost efficiency, and show a true commitment to employee well-being. This fosters a more satisfying work environment, promotes retention, and attracts diverse talent.

  • ◦ Ergonomic consultations for all employees

    ◦ Selection of varied furniture for employees to choose from, diverse furniture in common areas.

    ◦ Yearly employee surveys about ergonomics

    ◦ Mindful and inclusive equipment and tool section, consider different sizes and body shapes

    ◦ Working gear available in different sizes and designs suitable for different body sizes

  • ◦ Checklist ergonomic workstation

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