My recent research, with Dr Gary Raw, conducted in partnership with MillerKnoll, explores approaches to enticing the workforce back to the office (see the summary or full report). The research findings were presented to industry experts and their thoughts subsequently captured in an IN Magazine supplement.
Based on experience and our research, which included interviews and a survey with 490 respondents, here are five reasons why your office is empty:
1. Your office is not as comfortable as your employee’s home.
Surprisingly, our research showed that most respondents consider their homes to offer more control over indoor air quality, temperature, noise and visual privacy. High density workspaces can have a negative effect on such environmental conditions. Our research also found that unassigned desking is off-putting to some employees. Comfortable conditions are fundamental to a conducive working environment.
2. Your office is too distracting.
It does not facilitate work that requires focus, concentration or confidentiality, and free from distraction. Most of our respondents report that their homes are better for concentration and confidential tasks. They also said their homes are better for choice of spaces for focussed work and noise reduction. Noise is one of the biggest issues in office design and has been for some time; it impacts performance and wellbeing.
3. Your office does not symbolise strong leadership and culture.
Our survey indicates that the office can enhance a sense of purpose and belonging as well as facilitate social connectivity and collaboration. Furthermore, smaller, nimble and entrepreneurial organisations, like start-ups, with a highly motivational leadership team and regular team bonding events inspire more time in the office. A well-designed office can support the leadership and culture, but not compensate for lack of it.
4. Your office does not accommodate diverse individual requirements.
Our research found that preference for working in the office varies by personal circumstances, such as personality type, availability of space at home (like a home office), and family (particularly single parents). Other research identifies different requirements based on age, gender, ethnicity and neurodiversity. The office needs to accommodate a range of employee needs and not base the design on an assumed average person.
5. Your office location is inconvenient.
In addition to noise, lack of concentration and confidentiality, our survey found that most respondents prefer to work from home to reduce travel time/costs and to improve their work-life balance. The office is competing with working at home and the inconvenience of travelling to the office needs to be worthwhile. Relocation is clearly a long-term strategy, and the new location will not be convenient for all employees. A well-designed and comfortable office with facilities that support core work activities can help, but also consider special events, access to subsidised amenities such as an on-site gym, restaurant or crèche. Flexible working hours (off-peak travel) and subsidised rail tickets will also contribute to enticing employees back to the office.
But your office does have its benefits.
It’s not all bad news regarding office design. Our research found that the office is better than the home for connection, reducing loneliness, teamwork, collaboration, creativity, delineating work from home-life, mentoring, knowledge sharing, career progress, recognition, aligning with the organisational culture and a sense of belonging. Emphasising these benefits and the importance of the office will entice employees back to it.
If you would like to know more about the research or how to entice your team back to the office then drop me a line.
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