Facility experience and labour productivity

In January 2007, Dialogic conducted a preliminary study on behalf of Facilicom to investigate employees' workplace and facility experiences. It was observed that there are few scientific publications explicitly demonstrating the effects of facility experience on employee satisfaction and (perceived) work productivity. Some foreign publications do show a link between job satisfaction and the ability to design one's own workplace.

Subsequently, in September of last year, a follow-up study began. This follow-up research, also carried out by Dialogic on behalf of Facilicom, was conducted in collaboration with the Centre for People and Buildings (CfPB). In this study, the extensive CfPB database among office inhabitants was thoroughly analysed. Facility experience was measured as 'the extent to which daily users are satisfied with their workplace and work environment, both in physical and non-physical terms'. Physical facilities include items such as desks, flooring, sanitary facilities, reception, meeting, and cafeteria spaces, among others. Non-physical facilities include factors such as the care given to the management and maintenance of physical facilities, aspects related to the appearance of the workplace and environment, and the perceived service and convenience level of infrastructures. Statistical analyses revealed that as office workers are more satisfied with their facilities, they also perceive them to be more directly stimulating for their work productivity. Interestingly, this applies to both men and women, across all age and job category groups.

 

Dr. Ronald Batenburg (Dialogic) and Dr. ir. Theo van der Voordt (CfPB) have published an article on both studies in the Facility Management Magazine of December 2007. You can find the pdf of the article Influence of facility experience on work productivity here.

For more information or inquiries regarding this research, please contact Ronald Batenburg.