The Role of Office Design in Attracting & Retaining Talent
Good talent is hard to find. This was true before the coronavirus pandemic, but now that the pandemic has led to the Great Resignation, good talent isn’t just hard to find, it’s hard to keep. In a survey conducted by PWC in 2021, 65% of employees said they were looking for a new job and 88% of executives said their companies were experiencing higher turnover than usual. Ultimately, the Great Resignation is being driven by several different factors. But simply feeling appreciated at work can go a long way in encouraging people to stay with a company and workplace design can play a role in that.
A big reason why office design is important to employee retention is that design helps foster company culture. People want to feel like they fit in and are part of something. For example, if you want your company to have a social, collaborative spirit, people need spaces around the office that allow those connections to happen naturally. Or, if you want a fun, casual atmosphere, what features do you have that encourage people to have fun during the day? This is particularly important now that a growing number of companies are switching to hybrid work models and people are either in the office on a limited basis or come in specifically to work with others. Design can help make the most of those in-person interactions.
Good office design goes beyond the color of your walls or the style of flooring you have. It helps people do their jobs more effectively while also making them feel comfortable while doing so. Workplace design includes things like space layout, available light, and access to ergonomic workstations. Being comfortable while working isn’t counterproductive – it helps encourage productivity by preventing problems like headaches, eye strain, and back pain, just to name a few. Not only does this allow people to be more productive, it demonstrates that you care about the physical wellbeing of your employees. At the end of the day, we all want to spend time in places that make us feel good.
Among companies who are recruiting, having a great space to work in can help give you an edge in attracting the right talent. When people are looking for a new job, they spend a lot of time thinking about what the experience of working for a company would be like. Would they feel supported with access to everything they need to do their job effectively or would they be coming into an office that isn’t pleasant to work in? Does your space offer perks and amenities that another company’s office doesn’t? Even something as simple as having access to natural light can help make an office seem more attractive, with one study finding that natural light being a more desirable office feature than things like on-site fitness centers, cafeterias, and child care.
Is it time to give your office a new look? Premier Construction & Design has experience designing and building out spaces for companies in a wide range of industries located in the Metro Detroit area. Check out our portfolio and case studies to see examples of some projects we’ve worked on. When you’re ready, contact us so that we can learn more about your project.
