scholarly journals Work environment perceptions following relocation to open-plan offices: A twelve-month longitudinal study

Work ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Bergström ◽  
Michael Miller ◽  
Eva Horneij
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Open Plan

Impact of the psychosocial work environment on registered absence from work: A two-year longitudinal study using the IPAW cohort

Work & Stress ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin L. Nielsen * ◽  
Reiner Rugulies ◽  
Karl B. Christensen ◽  
Lars Smith-hansen ◽  
Jakob B. Bjorner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Psychosocial Work Environment ◽  
Psychosocial Work ◽  
Absence From Work

Productivity drivers of knowledge workers in the central London office environment

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Chadburn ◽  
Judy Smith ◽  
Joshua Milan
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Office Environment ◽  
Individual Preferences ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Office Space ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Personal Productivity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the drivers that allow for enhanced personal productivity of knowledge-based workers in Central London focusing on the physical and social environment as well as worker’s individual preferences. Design/methodology/approach A closed-ended questionnaire was sent to employees of eight professional companies (Consultancy, Financial and Media Services) based in Central London. Of the 500 questionnaires sent, 213 were successfully completed and returned, representing a response rate of 42.6 per cent. Findings The findings from this trial study show that comfort, convenience, IT connectivity, good design and working to a specific time scale were strong drivers of personal productivity. Knowledge workers prefer a flexible range of office settings that enable both a stimulating open and connected work environment, knowledge sharing, collaboration, as well as quiet concentration locations, free of distractions and noise. It was also found that moves of knowledge workers into open-plan office space (and especially fee earners) is normally met with initial resistance. However, there is normally greater acceptance of open space after experiencing an actual move into open-plan, with benefits improving teamwork and communication being highlighted. The research also stresses that office design considerations need to be closer aligned with knowledge worker’s overall well-being and individual psychological needs. Research limitations/implications Limited to Central London offices and self-assessed evaluation of productivity drivers within the knowledge worker’s office environment. Practical implications Corporate real estate managers and office occupiers, designers and facilities managers can use the findings as part of their workplace strategy by providing a range of flexible workplaces that allow the knowledge worker a place for greater personal productivity through the provision of a well-designed collaborative office environment alongside private and quiet working spaces. Developers and landlords should also be aware of these requirements when taking their decisions. Originality/value This paper focuses specifically on the high-productivity knowledge-based work environment, demonstrating that there is a need to consider the collaborative physical and social environment and the individual preferences of knowledge workers to ensure enhanced personal productivity and well-being within the office. This can be achieved through the provision of a well-designed office space that allows for open, connected and comfortable work environments, as well as opportunities to use dedicated concentration spaces that are free of distraction. It was also shown that hot-desking was unanimously disliked by knowledge workers.

The effect of open plan furniture settings on sustained attention: a randomized crossover trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Kelly ◽  
Blake Staat ◽  
Erica Klenz
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Negative Experience ◽  
Individual Work ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
The Individual

Current prevalent discourse suggests that open plan offices provide a negative experience for millions of workers. Since a major dissatisfier in the open plan is the increase in distractions and lack of privacy and the associated lack of ability to concentrate, we conceived of a randomized crossover experimental design that would examine how different furniture settings might affect the performance of a task designed to measure sustained attention. Seventy-three participants completed the Sustained Attention Response Task in two sessions, once at an open Bench workstation and once at a semi-shielded Individual Work Environment (IWE), within the open plan. Data was analyzed in a linear mixed model and showed that participants had significantly fewer errors of commission (p=.0004) and an increased response time for Go trials before a failed No-Go trial (p=.0232) at the Individual Work Environment which indicates better sustained attention than at the Bench. An increased response time for go trials was greater at the Bench, though it did not meet the threshold for significance (p=.0893). The theories of resource depletion and social inhibition may help to explain the findings as the Individual Work Environment provides increased privacy and a more relaxed posture, allowing individuals to conserve cognitive resources as the demand to monitor themselves and others in their surroundings is decreased. This research suggests that the open plan can provide increased density, flexibility and proximity while at the same time, better support the need for sustained attention, by offering a range of furniture settings with different affordances.

Effects of acoustic environment on work in private office rooms and open-plan offices – longitudinal study during relocation

Ergonomics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1423-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kaarlela-Tuomaala ◽  
R. Helenius ◽  
E. Keskinen ◽  
V. Hongisto
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Office Rooms

scholarly journals Relationship between attributes of individual workers and concentration at work

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 02050
Author(s):  
Reo Sugino ◽  
Shin-ichi Tanabe ◽  
Mikio Takahashi ◽  
Tomoko Tokumura ◽  
Kazuki Wada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Big Five Personality Traits ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Selection Of

Working environments are becoming far more diverse. For example, Activity-Based Working (ABW), a new style of working where workers choose their own work environment, is now attracting attention. An office that introduces ABW is comprised of various spaces, including open plan workspaces, corresponding to the ways of working. However, such an office may result in distraction. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the environmental factors that affect individual workers’ concentration at work. This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between individual workers’ attributes, such as the Big Five personality traits, personal control, and age, and the factors that distract them from their work. A questionnaire-based field survey was conducted at an office that partially adopted ABW to investigate the relationship between selection of seats and concentration at work. The results revealed different tendencies among workers for the type of work environment needed to concentrate according to their individual attributes. Additionally, it was suggested that the changing of seats lead to improved concentration at work, thus increasing productivity.

Indoor climate, psychosocial work environment and symptoms in open-plan offices

Indoor Air ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 392-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pejtersen ◽  
L. Allermann ◽  
T. S. Kristensen ◽  
O. M. Poulsen
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Psychosocial Work Environment ◽  
Indoor Climate ◽  
Psychosocial Work ◽  
Open Plan
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