What does the optimal office look like? Is it filled with technology designed to make tasks easier, or is it a simple, comfortable space? Are desks assigned to the individual, or has hotdesking made fixed workstations obsolete?
These are among the questions technology company Ricoh and Oxford Economics set out to address in a study of productivity and how people work.
We know comfortable temperatures and quality air, factors in which HVAC servicing plays a major role, can improve performance. Staff are less likely to be absent and are more productive in a carefully maintained workplace.
And according to Ricoh’s Economy of the People report, the productivity gains associated with optimising every single workplace could be worth £36.8 billion to the UK economy.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, technology was found to play an important role in output, with 77% of employees agreeing it is a significant driver. However, the results contradicted the theory that hotdesking is beneficial, with 93% of respondents saying they are most productive in a fixed location.
John Reiners of Oxford Economics said: “Though we hear often about trends to flexible co-working spaces and mobile working, our research shows that most workers want a private space at work with a workstation, environment and supporting infrastructure that helps them be productive.”
Making improvements to the environment does not need to involve a full HVAC installation, as most workplaces can benefit from simple changes that have a significant long-term effect. Executives were asked to estimate the impact of a perfect office environment on their organisation and more than two-thirds said they would expect a productivity improvement of up to 10%.
With such gains to be made from, few businesses can afford to overlook the importance of providing an environment for success. If you want to learn more about improving and maintaining your own workplace, click below to contact the 361 Servicing team.
