by Brianna Crandall — June 19, 2015—New research points to widespread discontent with office design among U.S. employees, with more than 75% of employees describing their office space as standard, plain or dull. Close to half (46%) of the employees would like to see more attention paid to office design, according to the recent survey of 1,500 U.S. employees and employers.
Business Interiors by Staples, part of Staples Advantage, the business to business division of office supply giant Staples, unveiled the new research at the NeoCon 2015 contract furnishings show this week.
So what do employees want to see in their office? Interest ranges from wellness (walking desks) to functional (different seating options), so office design must be flexible to meet the diverse needs of the workforce, says Staples. For employees who would like to see more attention paid to office design, top features include:
- Flexible furniture for multiple uses: 57%
- Different seating options: 48%
- Lounge areas: 46%
- Standing desks: 30%
- Open office / no cubicles: 26%
- Walking desks: 24%
Business Interiors by Staples has experts available to discuss the forces driving new design preferences, and steps businesses can take to ensure their workspace aligns with their culture and business goals.
At NeoCon, the company had a variety of office furniture on display to demonstrate the range of options available for different environments, and how a single piece of furniture can be used for a variety of functions, including: Global M/L stools, Egan Freeboard, National Fringe Bistro back 3-seater with tablet arms, Global JEO Chairs with polished pedestal base, and National Mio Wall and table with National Tag stools.
