Why the modern workplace is making us sick — and how to fix it
Last week, we joined forces with OnOffice Magazine and Welltek to host Silen Talks in our London showroom, diving into one of the biggest challenges facing today’s workforce: Why the modern workplace is making us sick — and how to fix it.
The conversation brought together experts from architecture, design, and wellbeing to explore how overstimulation, poor design, and a lack of human-centered thinking are undermining our health, and what can be done to restore balance in the modern office.
The panel featured:
Will Nock — Associate Interior Designer, MoreySmith
Daphne Yuanidis — Associate, HKS
Julian de Metz — Director, dMFK
Neil Jenkins — Co-Founder, Welltek
Moderated by: Sonia Zhuravlyova, Editor, OnOffice Magazine
The overstimulated office
If there was one theme that united all speakers, it was overstimulation. As Will Nock noted, human evolution simply hasn’t caught up with the pace of modern life. We’re bombarded with people, screens, and content from the moment we wake up to the moment we leave the office. The result? Stress, distraction, and fatigue.
“The workplace should be seen as a refuge,” Nock said, pointing to lighting and variation as key ingredients for calm. The right quality of light that mirrors the sun’s natural rhythm, along with the use of natural materials, helps restore balance in spaces dominated by artificial glare and digital noise. Daphne Yuanidis added that tangible environmental factors like poor air quality and light pollution directly increase stress hormones and can contribute to long-term health issues such as dementia and depression.
Designing for real human needs
The solution, said Julian de Metz, is to move from a purely quantitative approach to one that focuses on quality. “We’ve become obsessed with meeting technical standards,” he explained, “but that’s a failure of creativity.” Workplaces should be judged by how they make people feel, not by how many desks can fit into a floor plan.
Both De Metz and Will Nock highlighted the importance of variety in light, layout, and atmosphere. Employees should feel inspired to come in, not pressured. Daphne Yuanidis added that supporting neurodiversity and flexibility is key to creating spaces that truly nurture wellbeing. Neil Jenkins reminded that poorly managed noise remains one of the biggest frustrations in the workplace. “Once your focus is broken, it can take up to an hour to get it back again,” he said, noting that quiet spaces, such as pods, help people regain control of their environment and attention.
Designing for connection
While silence and focus are essential, the conversation also highlighted the need for connection. Studies show that strong social bonds at work buffer stress and improve retention — a point Yuandis illustrated with research showing that employees who have a best friend at work are half as likely to leave their job.
For Nock, this social aspect starts with understanding team psychology. Letting colleagues who naturally get along sit together fosters trust, while thoughtful meeting times and formats can make collaboration more inclusive. De Metz added that flexibility — not rigid desk assignments or soulless hotdesking — helps create comfort and belonging in the office.
Final thoughts
The discussion ended on a clear note: fixing the modern workplace isn’t about adding plants or gimmicks, but about restoring balance. Offices should serve both focus and connection, stimulation and rest. As Nock put it, workplace design isn’t about imposing one way of working on employees, but enabling multiple ways to thrive.
In a world where AI and digital noise increasingly compete for our attention, physical spaces must work harder to support the things that make us most human — focus, trust, and genuine connection. That’s what Silen Talks are all about: opening up conversations on how better spaces lead to better work, and healthier, happier people.
Thank you to Welltek, OnOffice Magazine and all our panellists for sharing their insights and helping us explore this important topic!
As Silen’s Head of Content, Kirke shares the story of the world’s largest collection of office pods and privacy solutions with global audiences across all platforms. She delves into topics like workspace focus and office productivity. Connect with Kirke on LinkedIn.
Head of Partner Relations at Silen, delivering the Silen brand to top global resellers in 60 countries across 6 continents. She writes about workspace wellbeing and innovative office spaces. Connect with Mariann on LinkedIn.
