There’s no question benefits plans drastically impact how workers feel about their employers as a whole. But what do workers feel would improve the daily work environment.
Here are the top five improvements workers would like to see around the office:
- Eliminating office politics (44%)
- Allowing or encouraging telecommuting (41%)
- Upgrading computers and other office technology (37%)
- Getting better looking/more comfortable furniture (35%)
- More private work areas and more flexible work hours (both tied for fifth at 34% each)
That’s according to a September 2011 survey of more than 300 U.S. office workers by Staples Advantage, the B2B division of Staples, Inc.
Other findings/insights from the survey:
- The vast majority of respondents were happy with their boss, with 78% giving their boss an “A” or “B” rating
- 52% rated their office furniture a “C”
- 51% rated their office decor a “C”
- If they had a more comfortable workspace, one-third of respondents said they’d be more pleasant to work with, half said they’d be more productive and 35% said they’d feel less stressed
- 54% said if they could make one change to improve the comfort of their workspace, they’d ask for a more ergonomic chair, and
- 50% of respondents reported leaving the office on coffee or snack runs at least once a day, so it may be worth it from a productivity standpoint for employers to offer workers” favorite brands of coffee/snacks on site.
