A study by a London-based software company concluded that about one-third of workers prefer traditional closed offices or cubicles to open plan offices and other environments. The company Diskette Limited collects a vast amount of data analyzing human activity and interaction. They look for patterns of behavior to emerge and use their research along with principles of neuroscience and behavioral economics in software development. On its wundamail.com website, the company has published the results of a study done in conjunction with its Diskette Behavioural Research operation. The study is titled “The State of the Workplace 2019.”
An online survey was produced to gather data about current and preferred working environments from people who were currently active in the workplace. The study did not allow the self-employed or students to participate. The survey contained multiple choice and essay questions and gathered data such as experience level, gender and age range. There were 2,660 participants in the study.
The results showed that 35.5% of the respondents preferred a closed office environment big enough to accommodate a small team, while 23% favored an open plan workspace. Those who preferred a traditional closed office environment cited reasons that included lack of noise and being able to use office equipment they prefer such as ergonomic chairs. The study said that preferring an open-plan office implies a strong desire for flexible working The study found that 18.1% prefer the atmosphere of a single-person study, 17.4% would rather work in the “comfort of my sofa at home” and 6% would rather work in a nonwork-related space such as a library or coffee shop.
Study participants expressed a belief that flexibility is the key to higher productivity. A total of 68.9% of respondents said flexibility in where they worked, having the ability to schedule their work around other commitments and an ability to no longer waste time, energy and patience in commuting was either definitely important or important to a degree.
The study found that established department heads and executives are more likely to prefer remote working than entry-level workers. “It seems to be more senior members of staff who are seeking to work remotely at some point in the future,” the study said.
When asked to identify the negative aspects of their workplaces, study participants highlighted poor light, air temperature levels, cramped desks and what was described as “poor office culture.” Their workplace was cited as having a negative influence on mental well-being by 16% of those participating in the survey.
The study sought to determine the influence working environment has on an employee”™s negative attitude toward his or her job. It found that 23% have quit or considered quitting a job as a result of a poor working environment. “The cost of hiring and training each new member of staff can prove monumental, whereas simply altering working conditions and environments could lessen the financial and logistical burden,” the study said.
