Employees feel more productive when satisfied with their workspace
Seventy-one percent of employees surveyed felt that the new office enabled them to be more productive, a substantial improvement from just 17% in the previous space. Even nine months after relocating, employees continued to experience enhanced productivity, a subsequent survey showed.
Satisfaction with the office environment also soared to 94% from 56%. Notably, employees identified spaces that enable collaboration and focused individual work as the most-improved attributes in the new office.
Increased face-to-face interaction was a primary factor driving the productivity surge, leading to greater interest and engagement in their tasks.
Consistent with a previous neuroscience study in Singapore, employees showed greater focus and immersion in tasks when working around peers, as compared to remotely.
These findings underscore the importance of office design in enabling both effective in-person interactions and focused work, Hamley notes. “Organizations should analyze employees’ creative work styles to create tailored environments that cater to their specific needs, based on how they get their best work done.”
A workplace that values well-being creates a more positive perception among employees
Employees’ perception of the new office as “a good place to work” improved following targeted workspace changes, climbing to 88% from 71%.
Among the most notable improvements were enhancements in air quality, natural light, ergonomics, and noise levels, as well as the addition of indoor greenery. Employees felt that these changes positively impacted their well-being and productivity.
“These factors are becoming increasingly essential in modern workplaces,” says Hamley. “Such features consistently rank highly in terms of importance, indicating their significant impact on employee well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction.”
Even small, incremental changes to the office environment can make a big difference, according to Hamley.
“Improvements to workspaces don’t always call for a major overhaul,” he says. “Instead, organizations should focus on encouraging more intentional use of space and providing a framework for employees to choose appropriate workspaces based on their specific needs and tasks.”
Explore more of JLL's latest insights on World Economic Forum themes at our dedicated Davos page.