How workers approach their office space is evolving, from cubicle farms to working at home and various points in between. A recent survey by business-to-business research, ratings and review firm Clutch found that most employees (83 percent) prefer to spend at least some time in office over being fully remote, but to allow employees to be as productive as possible, they should offer multiple spaces in their office, including both collaborative and quiet spaces.
In-office work helps employees collaborate with coworkers and feel included in the company’s culture. Bethany Babcock, owner of Foresite Commercial Real Estate, a commercial real estate brokerage firm in Texas, says, “Most work-from-home employees I know enjoy knowing there is a spot, even if not a designated spot, for them at the office when needed. The alternative sends the message that you belong at home, not here, and this isn’t your office.”
As for what employees value in an office, 52 percent of the 503 full-time employees surveyed for the study said that they want a private office over an open floor plan or cubicle office at work. This is despite the office trend toward open floor plans.
“The trend toward open offices continues and is in high demand in spite of employee objections,” Babcock says. “The most common complaint from open office users is frequent interruptions…If a person is in a position that requires focus, it can be irritating and counterproductive.”
Clutch’s research identified that businesses can solve this frustration by providing a variety of in-office spaces, and that by creating multiple types of places to work, workers who prefer private space can get work done quietly, while workers who prefer collaboration have space where they can interact with others. It found that 74 percent of offices have personal spaces for employees, 56 percent have large meeting rooms, 53 percent have small collaborative spaces, 51 percent have lounges or break rooms and 41 percent have quiet spaces.
