A recent study involving over 2,000 UK office workers highlights the positive impact of working from the office on employee happiness.
- The survey reveals that only a small fraction of workers, 19.23%, feel unhappy when working from the office, a figure even lower for Gen Z at 7.95%.
- Friday emerges as the most preferred day for office work, with Thursday being the least favoured among employees.
- Key reasons for preferring office work include social interaction, increased productivity, and better collaboration, among others.
- The anxiety faced by employees during weekends signals the need for improved work-life balance management at workplaces.
A comprehensive study conducted by Making Moves, an office consultancy firm, surveyed 2,023 full-time UK office workers to assess their preferences for office work. The findings suggest that a majority of employees experience happiness when working from the office on certain days, with a mere 19.23% expressing dissatisfaction. For younger workers, such as those from Gen Z, this dissatisfaction rate drops significantly to 7.95%.
The study delineates Friday as the day offering maximum contentment for office-goers, in stark contrast to Thursday, which registers lower happiness levels. This constitutes vital information for organisations aiming to optimise work schedules for enhanced employee satisfaction.
Among the primary reasons cited for favouring office work are social engagement with colleagues (41.52%), stepping out of the home environment (39%), enhanced communication and cooperation (35.69%), and increased productivity (30.85%). Additional benefits include having a dedicated workspace (30.45%), maintaining clearer work-life boundaries (30.20%), better resources and equipment (29.16%), increased physical activity (25.65%), and fewer home distractions (24.37%). Moreover, 22.29% prefer the social atmosphere that an office provides.
Particularly during winter, having the opportunity to ‘get out of the house’ is pivotal, as it ensures exposure to natural daylight, which is reduced during these months. Neina Sheldon from Make Light Matter emphasises the importance of morning daylight exposure for aligning the body’s internal clock with the day, suggesting that commuting provides a natural boost that benefits health. Recommendations for enhancing wellbeing include bright light therapy and flexible work timings allowing daylight exposure.
The report highlights a concerning trend where over 40% of workers feel anxious during weekends anticipating the upcoming workweek. Sally Evans of Making Moves underscores the necessity for organisations to foster environments that enable employees to disconnect from work stress over the weekend. Leaders are encouraged to model a healthy work-life balance, emphasising the importance of personal time, which contributes to happier and more productive employees.
Amidst discussions by major firms like Amazon and Salesforce on returning to office models, the report presents a nuanced view, indicating there are considerable benefits to regular in-office work, as evidenced by the data-driven insights gathered through this research.
The research underscores the multifaceted benefits of in-office work while highlighting areas for enhancing employee happiness and well-being.
