Landmark study reveals bedroom design having most | Australian Markets

Wellbeing begins within the bedroom for fly-in, fly-out staff with a first-of-its-kind study revealing the design of personal residing quarters had the most affect on morale.

The study, led by West Australian architectural sociologist Jack Tooley, surveyed staff from across the nation in a bid to find how FIFO camp design impacts employee productiveness, morale, presenteeism and retention.

Leading the checklist of gripes for FIFO staff was a lack of sound insulation in bedrooms, mattress and mattress high quality, room dimension and the standard of furnishings.

A scarcity of washable surfaces, not enough laundry services, and the shortcoming to personalise rooms was additionally impacting wellbeing.

Dr Tooley, who’s the Monash University head of spatial design, stated the outcomes have been “totally understandable”.

“While gyms and other facilities are really important the study has shown by magnitudes that the best thing you can do for FIFO workers is give them comfortable, well-insulated bedrooms with a decent sized bed and a good quality mattress,” he stated.

“If you’re working 12 hours a day in extreme temperatures and conditions and using your body you don’t just want but need a decent bed and a good nights sleep to be able to wake up the next day and perform.

“People just want rest, recuperation and to feel clean.”

The study revealed the design of FIFO camps lowered staff’ morale by more than 15 per cent and decreased productiveness by 12 per cent.

Retention was additionally lowered by more than 11 per cent and presenteeism was down by 9 per cent as a end result of unhealthy camp design.

Workers who didn’t establish as white, heteronormative males reported that camp design had up to fifteen per cent more affect on their wellbeing.

Dr Tooley was now calling on FIFO staff to finish a second survey for the landmark study.

He stated the outcomes of this could permit him to develop a first-of-its-kind return on investment calculator, which might permit firms to forecast the ROI from particular design upgrades.

“Mining companies could help so many people with just a few tweaks here and there,” Dr Tooley stated.

“The ROI calculator would be available for use by mining companies who are refurbishing existing camps or building them.

“This has the potential to change FIFO workers’ lives.”

Some construction firms together with Grounded Group have been already partaking with the info to provide mining villages that improve staffs’ wellbeing.

FIFO staff can fill within the second survey at www.grounded.com.au