Workplace ‘cosiness’ key to productivity – OfficeMax NZ survey
A symptom of winter blues, or symptomatic of a post-pandemic workplace?
12 September 2023 - Ever worn trackpants and slippers on a Zoom call? Or made a cooked meal while working at home? What about spending an afternoon working while snuggled up on the couch?
Most of us would say yes to at least one of these things, and the pandemic was largely to thank. But how important are these comforts of home in the physical office? Very important, according to a survey by OfficeMax, the country’s leading workplace specialist.
Inspired by Hygge – the Danish concept of cosiness and living well – OfficeMax surveyed more than 700 office workers about what comfort at work meant to them.
Comfort is King
A staggering 96 per cent of office workers say comfort in the workplace is important. Critically, close to 90 per cent (89%) of respondents said that being comfortable actually enhances their personal productivity.
“While close attention has been paid to the role of technology in enhancing productivity, very little research exists around the role of comfort, of cosiness, in driving productivity,” says Kevin Obern, Managing Director of OfficeMax New Zealand.
“Productivity ‘hacks’ also tend to focus on more obvious drivers like concentrating on single tasks early in the day and using technology to enhance your work etc. But what our research shows is that ‘softer’ drivers, and the things that alleviate stress and tension, are absolutely critical,” he says.
The OfficeMax survey found that comfort in the workplace was enhanced by:
- A clean physical environment (63%)
- Peace and quiet (54%)
- Freedom to wear what you want or “not dress up” (51%)
- Ergonomic furniture such as a desk or chair (42%)
- Freedom to listen to the music you like (41%)
Other comforts valued by office workers, from a list of 12, include the ability to adjust lighting, make their own food, and easy access to outdoor areas/nature – in essence, the comforts of home, at work.
Shhh… work in progress
Interestingly, the survey highlighted key intergenerational differences in workplace comfort preferences. Well over half of older respondents said they require peace and quiet to feel comfortable, compared to just 35 per cent of 18-24-year-olds.
Two’s company
When it comes to working together, nearly two-thirds of 18-24-year-olds (61%) said ‘having company’ is important to a feeling of comfort at work, compared to just 23 per cent of those aged 55+, again suggested intergenerational differences.
Viva La Musica
Eighty per cent of 18-24-year-olds, said listening to music they liked enhanced comfort in the workplace – twice that of those aged 35 to 44 and more than three times more than people over 55. Wellingtonians felt the strongest about their own music, with 13 per cent actually willing to seek new employment if their freedom to ‘drop a bop’ was impeded on.
Suits vs sweats
The shift to a more relaxed workplace attire looks set to continue with pandemic Zoom meetings leaving a lingering effect on Kiwis. Half (51%) of all those surveyed want the freedom to wear what they want, and this was slightly higher in women, with 56 per cent stating that not having to dress up at the office made them more comfortable.
Getting comfortable with comfort
“The workplace continues to evolve. The modern office must not only cater for the varied and changing ways in which we work and use technology, but to how we want to feel when we are there. Our research suggests some intergenerational differences in what people want in the workplace, but the fundamental idea of comfort, of cosiness, seems to resonate with everyone,” says Obern.
“For businesses, it’s worth taking note of what this might mean. Small changes, like the introduction of a comfortable corner, quality snacks and hot beverages, or having quiet zones could make a major difference to comfort levels, and in turn, productivity,” concludes Obern.