The talent war has been raging for a while now. And there is one question that everyone wants the answer to: What is it that really attracts office workers to a company, and what’s just nice to have?
Flexibility is top of the list.
The public opinion research institute Gallup carried out a study with 5,700 office workers in the US to determine what employees really feel is important in terms of working hours, and above all, what options would encourage them to change jobs. Factors such as flexitime were considered a basic requirement rather than a real bonus. On the other hand, additional annual leave, a four-day week, and the option to work partially remotely (regardless of location) or at home, were real plus-points in favour of changing jobs.
Interiors as a key factor.
But it’s not just working hours and models that play a decisive role. Factors such as regionality and the design of the office spaces are essential to office workers. Property consultants Savills also carried out a study on office workers, asking the question: “What factors would you change about your workplace, if you could?” The most popular option, chosen by around 16 percent of those surveyed, was the length of their commute. A close second was the design and furnishings of the interiors, which was the top choice for 15 percent of the respondents. ###COLUMN###
Based on these findings and the clear importance of the interior design of offices for workers, Savills continued the survey by asking how much additional commuting time employees would accept if it were balanced out by having what they considered to be their perfect working environment. The result? Three quarters of the respondents would travel up to 30 minutes longer if they could work in their dream office – despite the fact that a shorter commute was their top priority.
According to the survey, a dream office would offer things such as options to work away from the desk, cleanliness, good lighting, a quiet environment, comfortable workstations, increased use of plants, and the rooms’ interior architectural design.
Conclusion:
Alongside increasing flexibility in terms of working hours, the attractiveness of the office space is a top priority when it comes to finding new employees and retaining them long-term. Investing in the planning of your office landscape is therefore not only a sensible choice, but also essential for attracting the best employees to your company.