News on 04 October 2000
News from the international corporate real estate organisation
NACORE confirms that office design schemes can be a crucial factor in
attracting new staff and keeping current employees happy.
In research conducted in heartland America by workplace specialists OMNNI,
more than two out of three facilities decision-makers said they invest
in office design to meet recruitment and retention objectives.
The main areas to benefit from new spending, in order of reported priority,
were:
- private offices and workspaces
- conference and meetings rooms
- break areas
- reception areas, and
- dining areas.
Given the specific goal of making the environment more employee-friendly,
the majority of the businesses questioned focus on changing workstation
configurations, followed by the introduction of artwork and more colour
and texture. Also mentioned as well-received gestures were plants and
fountains, comfortable furniture and free food.
These results add to previous research, which found that salary has ceased
to be the No. 1 lure for most employees. Increasingly, it’s the broader
package that swings the decision. Particularly important in many people’s
judgement are flexible work arrangements and access to a menu of corporate
benefits.Elliott Chase
