The Link between Work-from-Home Setup and Satisfaction
February 25, 2021
Illustration by @drawnwell
DESIGN DATA
The last 10 months have illustrated that, with the right tools, technology, and infrastructure, productive work can happen remotely. A closer look at the factors that make remote work effective and successful reveals a link between work-from-home (WFH) setup and satisfaction. In several leading surveys, employees with dedicated workspace report higher satisfaction with task effectiveness and WFH experience.
The AT HOME survey, conducted by Perkins and Will both internally and with clients during the pandemic, revealed that employees working in a nondedicated workspace or at informal settings like sofas and recliners, shared with others, report lower satisfaction with concentration and task effectiveness.
According to a recent survey conducted by Leesman, an organization that houses the world’s largest database of employee experience data, employees with a dedicated work room or office report a significantly higher satisfaction score (H-Lmi 77.0) when compared to employees with a nonspecific home location (H-Lmi 64.4) such as a dining table.
Another research study, conducted by Global Workplace Analytics and Design Public Group, highlighted that investing in an effective WFH setup can lead to enhanced productivity and reduced health and compensation costs for employers. The report also shared a noteworthy metric that an employer can pay for “350 ergonomic office chairs for the cost of one workers’ compensation claim stemming from employee injury.”
While some employers have already invested in the work-from-home setup of employees, others continue to grapple with organization-wide policies around WFH setup. Some options for employers to consider include giving stipends or discounts to employees, allowing them to take in-office equipment home, or providing guidance and training on home office setup. Additionally, creating a nuanced understanding of the types of employee personas based on work styles and responsibilities can also help employers address employee needs based on where they work the most and/or are most effective.
The Planning and Strategies group at Perkins and Will, Minneapolis, contributed this article. The Design Data department highlights compelling data nuggets and survey findings related to the built environment.
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