With summer upon us, some businesses are failing to provide seasonal perks that workers say boosts productive workers motivation, as well as neglecting important facilities, including air conditioning and showers, which employees say directly improves their happiness. Employees also value improvements to the office environment to such an extent that they would be willing to sacrifice part of their salary for an office refurbishment and spend more time in the office if they had better facilities. These are the most significant findings of a new survey by workplace consultants and office design specialists, Peldon Rose.
As many organisations know, it can be difficult to keep employees engaged and motivated during the summer months and this survey helps businesses identify key areas to improve and top tips for businesses on how to address this.
Survey highlights
· Summer perks: 84 per cent believe that summer perks would make them more productive, yet 34 per cent of offices don’t offer any
· Summer perks: Casual dress, team drinks and team meals were the most commonly offered summer perk, while an early finish and ice cream delivery were the least common
· Office facilities: Two thirds (66 per cent) believe that their office environment plays a key role in keeping them happy at work
· Office facilities: There are clear discrepancies between what employees value versus what their work offers, including 60 per cent valuing air conditioning but 37 per cent do not have it; 57 per cent value outdoor spaces/opportunities for fresh air but 66 per cent do not have it available; 40 per cent value natural lighting yet 39 per cent don’t have it, and; 34 per cent value showers and changing facilities yet 65 per cent don’t have access to them
· Happiness: 42 per cent of employees say that their current office environment does not have a positive impact on their happiness and only 36 per cent enjoy coming to work everyday
· Salary sacrifice: A third (31 per cent) of employees said they would sacrifice at least one per cent of their salary for an office refurbishment with enhanced office facilities
· Extra hours: 66 per cent of employees said they would spend more hours in the office if extra facilities were provided, with 17 per cent saying they would spend more than two hours extra per day
· Relationships: Three quarters (76 per cent) said their colleagues/peers are a key factor in keeping them happy at work followed by a good relationship with their boss (68 per cent)
· Staff bonding: 87 per cent of employees report that summer perks help them to bond with their colleagues
· Productivity: More than half (59 per cent) of employees feel they are most productive working in the office yet less than half (48 per cent) are involved in any planned changes to the office
Businesses are failing to offer summer perks for productive workers
The survey reveals that while 84 per cent of the UK workforce believe that summer perks make them more productive and 40 per cent say they would keep them happy at work, yet a third (34 per cent) of businesses do not offer any form of seasonal benefits. Of the companies that did offer such perks, the most common were casual dress (35 per cent), team drinks (34 per cent) and team meals (22 per cent).
However, the most valued summer perks, including operating summer hours, e.g. early finish (59 per cent) and ice cream delivery (37 per cent), were the least offered by businesses (seven per cent and 13 per cent, respectively). To keep employees engaged, providing simple, cost-friendly summer benefits that promote a work-life balance will help to increase employee productivity and create a happy, well rounded work environment.
Employees seek office facilities that will benefit them through the summer months
In the warmer summer months, office facilities that allow employees to keep fit and cool off while enjoying the nicer weather are important for employees’ happiness. When it comes to office facilities, the survey reveals that the office environment (66 per cent) is one of the top factors that is likely to keep employees happy at work, yet there tends to be clear discrepancies in the facilities employees value versus what their work offers.
The facilities that employees tend to value the most include air conditioning (60 per cent) yet 37 per cent don’t have air conditioning; 57 per cent valuing outdoor spaces and opportunities for fresh air but 66 per cent of offices do not offer these spaces; 40 per cent value natural lighting and 39 per cent don’t have access to it and; 34 per cent value showers or changing facilities and 65 per cent do not have these facilities available to them. Providing staff with the opportunity to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing through exercise, fresh air and cooling is a must for all businesses in order to attract and retain the best talent.
Employees are willing to give up part of their salary for a refurbished office and spend more time at work
Two thirds (66 per cent) of UK workers say the office environment is one of the key factors that keeps them happy at work, yet 42 per cent say that their current office does not have a positive impact their happiness, furthermore only 36 per cent enjoy coming to work every day.
Employees have even expressed an interest in helping to address the problem, with almost a third (31 per cent) of employees revealing they would be willing to sacrifice at least one per cent of their salary for an office refurbishment with enhanced facilities, and 66 per cent of employees reporting that they would spend more hours in the office if extra facilities were provided, with 17 per cent saying they would spend more than two hours extra a day.
These statistics should be seen as an opportunity to many employers to think about how they can allocate funds in alternative ways to improve the office culture and help attract and retain talent. By improving the office by incorporating facilities like a coffee bar, gym or shower, businesses will create opportunities for staff to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, refreshments and exercise together.
Employees seek opportunities for staff bonding
If employees are provided office facilities that make them more inclined to spend more time in the office, staff will be provided more opportunities to bond and team build – key criteria for a happy workforce. One of the main factors that keeps employees happy in the workplace is building relationships with their colleagues and peers (76 per cent), closely followed by a good relationship with their boss (68 per cent). Providing opportunities for colleagues to spend time outside of work together is a simple way to build relationships and trust among workers.
In the summer months, this is even more important, with 87 per cent of employees reporting that summer perks would help them to bond with their colleagues. Take advantage of the warmer weather by planning simple yet engaging activities for staff to relax and bond while promoting collaboration and communication. If there are opportunities to maximise exposure to fresh air and daylight at the same time, then that would be a double bonus.
Jitesh Patel, chief executive, Peldon Rose, the office design specialists, comments, ‘We know that in the summer, employees tend to exercise more, eat healthier and place a higher value on office facilities, such as changing areas, showers and air conditioning. They also want to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air whenever possible, making the desire to have access to outdoor spaces and natural lighting that much more important to their wellbeing.
‘As our survey reveals, it is clear that employees don’t feel their offices are doing enough to meet these needs or to instigate team bonding. If employees are willing to give up part of their salary and spend more time in the office due to an office refurbishment, businesses should take notice and put an emphasis on creating strategic changes to their office that benefits their workforce.’
The majority (59 per cent) of UK workers say they work most productive in the office, yet less than half (48 per cent) are involved in any planned changes to the office. If employees feel involved and engaged in decisions around the work environment, they are more likely to spend more time in the office, form deeper relationships, and improve collaboration, staff retention and productivity.
Further reading on a productive office
