Office workers value flexible working options more than any other employment benefit, but there are crucial differences between what men and women want from their employer according to new research released from Ambius, experts in interior landscaping.
A survey of 1,000 office workers in the US and UK found that men value health insurance above any other work perk, whereas women would prefer more flexibility in their office job, such as options for remote working or adaptable hours.
Health insurance is four times more important to US office workers (41%) than office workers in the UK (11%), where health care is often taken for granted by many employees due to the existence of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
US office workers in southeastern states (51%) value health care more than workers anywhere else in the country, whereas midwestern workers (23%) value vacation leave significantly more than workers on the west coast (9%).
One thing office workers agree on is the importance of office environment to their overall job satisfaction, with 90% of employees saying that the layout and design features of their office is a major factor in whether they are happy at work.
Half of office workers (50%) say they would not accept a job offer without looking at the workspace. Men appear to be a little more interested in their workspace than women, with 40% of men saying they have declined a job offer because they didn’t find the office space attractive or appealing compared to 34% of women.
Play areas are twice as important to men (9%) than women (4%), while people who work in accounting, banking and finance are twice as likely (22%) to crave bright colors than health care workers (10%) or people in public services and administration (9%).
Energy and utility workers say they value hot drinks and complimentary beverages more than any other benefit, including health care and vacation leave.
Office workers spend less time outdoors than prisoners
Within this research, Ambius revealed that that office workers spend just 47 minutes outside during a typical working day, which is less than prisoners, who require at least one hour of outdoor exposure each day, according to UN guidelines.
One-in-three office workers (35%) spend no more than 15 minutes outside during their working day, while only 26% say they spend more than an hour outside each day, excluding time spent commuting.
It is, therefore, not surprising that most office workers (64%) say that natural lighting is a highly-important office feature. However, despite this lack of outdoor exposure, only 18% of office workers believe that outside areas are important to their job satisfaction.
Ambius encourages companies who are prioritizing talent recruitment and retention to explore workplace design improvements that facilitate better health and well-being.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Dec 16, 2020
Download a PDF of all 2020 Giants 400 Rankings
This 70-page PDF features AEC firm rankings across 51 building sectors, disciplines, and specialty services.
Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020
2020 Office Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. office building sector
Gensler, Jacobs, and STO Building Group head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest office building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Government Buildings | Nov 25, 2020
New Indiana Toll Road headquarters creates unified environment for staff
New LEED Gold facility consolidates operations for tollway authority.
Smart Buildings | Nov 20, 2020
The Weekly show: SPIRE smart building rating system, and pickleball court design tips
The November 19 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.
Office Buildings | Nov 17, 2020
Former elementary school becomes modern office space in North Charleston
The Middleton Group is designing the project.
Government Buildings | Nov 13, 2020
Tax shortfalls nip government projects in the bud
Federal contracts are proceeding, but states and cities are delaying, deferring, and looking for private investment.
AEC Tech | Nov 12, 2020
The Weekly show: Nvidia's Omniverse, AI for construction scheduling, COVID-19 signage
BD+C editors speak with experts from ALICE Technologies, Build Group, Hastings Architecture, Nvidia, and Woods Bagot on the November 12 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Office Buildings | Nov 9, 2020
HWKN unveils Bushwick Generator office campus
The building will become a new hub for innovative companies in Brooklyn.
Building Team Awards | Nov 2, 2020
It's back to the future for this contractor
Poettker Construction’s new headquarters in rural Breese, Ill., is recognized with a Bronze Award in BD+C’s 2020 Building Team Awards.
Smart Buildings | Oct 26, 2020
World’s first smart building assessment and rating program released
The SPIRE Smart Building Program will help building owners and operators make better investment decisions, improve tenant satisfaction, and increase asset value.