Majority of CoreNet Members Consider the Workplace a Driver of Productivity

Nearly eight-in-10 (78 percent) of CoreNet members believe that the physical workplace is a driver of employee productivity and satisfaction, according to joint research project called Driving Shareholder Value in the Workplace from Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions (GWS) and CoreNet Global.

Despite the fact that the majority believe that the workplace is a key driver of productivity, just over half of those questioned (54 percent) conducted analysis of their employees and real estate portfolio to establish usage and identify areas of opportunity.
Richard Mitton, Director of Global Product Development at Johnson Controls GWS

Richard Mitton, Director of Global Product Development at Johnson Controls GWS, said: “The study showed that even those that did conduct analysis of their employees and workplaces linked them back to standard business metrics, which look at efficiencies, such as reducing facilities costs, decreasing an organization’s real estate portfolio, or keeping to budgets. Such measurements fail to show the impact that the workplace has on productivity and business performance.”

“However, we need to do more to understand the effectiveness of real estate. It’s not simply about reducing costs but finding an empirical way to measure how a company’s buildings can increase employee morale, retention and collaboration, all of which increase productivity and add to a company’s bottom line. We need to do more to measure the positive effects that real estate has, so that the industry can articulate them at boardroom level,” added Mitton.

According to the 118 respondents, the top-three drivers of workplace productivity include...

  • the appropriate tools and technology (86 percent),
  • leadership and direction (85 percent) and
  • a flexible workspace that enables collaboration and focus (50 percent).

Operational efficiency and business success led as the key driver of workplace change (41 percent), followed by the ability to adapt and innovate in a changing market (21 percent), and attracting and retaining key talent (19 percent).

The survey also found that 36 percent of respondents said that more than a quarter of the work performed at their organization was conducted by employees working flexibly away from the main office.

“The ability to work flexibly seems to be part of many companies’ culture. Not only will companies have to adapt the workplace to accommodate the shift towards flexible working patterns, but any measurement of real estate and workplace productivity needs to recognize such shifts in the way people work,” added Mitton.

Cost savings, the need to update facilities, productivity and employee retention, greater efficiency, and cultural change were some of the responses given for the types of changes made to improve worker productivity and increase shareholder value. While employee morale (46%), followed by employee skills and job alignment (27%) are noted as the top attributes for effective working environments.

Key findings:

  • 78 percent considered the physical workplace to be a driver of worker productivity and satisfaction
  • 54 percent conducted analysis of their workforce and real estate portfolios to establish usage and identify opportunities
  • Top-three drivers of productivity in the workplace were appropriate tools and technology (86 percent), leadership and direction (85 percent) and flexible workspace that encourages collaboration (50 percent)
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