Steelcase Global Report found that one in three employees in the workplace are disengaged. With only 13 percent of employees actually reported engaged in their work, Steelcase has ventured to ask the question, can the workplace impact employee engagement?
Engaged Employees Report Higher Workplace Satisfaction
The Steelcase Global Report study showed that employees who had higher satisfaction in the workplace correlated with those that were more engaged in the workplace. Employee workplace satisfaction comes from many different places in the office and is contingent on various factors. Some of the factors are in the employee’s’ control and others are not.
As an employer, it’s important that measures are taken to create an environment that fosters high workplace satisfaction. When it comes to satisfaction, employee engagement isn’t the only thing that stems from it. Productivity, motivation, and quality of work are all affected by employee satisfaction.
What Drives Employee Satisfaction?
Workplace satisfaction among employees, whether it’s positive or negative, generally comes as a direct response to the workplace itself. The “workplace” can encompass many aspects including the people that work there, the atmosphere, the design, and the morale of the company. Following the logic of the Steelcase Global Report, if employers improve the workplace they can increase employee satisfaction which can then boost employee engagement.
Stimulation
Many employees stated lack of stimulating activity as the cause of low workplace satisfaction. One way you can increase stimulation in the office is through innovative design. By setting aside spaces where employees are able to be creative and innovate, their juices can start to flow. Creative spaces, whether they be individual or collaborative, are perfect ways to improve your workspace and boost employee engagement.
Purpose
Another topic that often brings down employee satisfaction and engagement is lack of purpose in the workplace. Employees, especially millennials, are interested in working for the greater good. If their job has no greater purpose to it other than filing papers and completing reports their workplace satisfaction is going to plummet and their engagement will not be far behind. To instill purpose into your workplace, try creating motivation through short term goals that emphasize the company’s mission and the larger part your employees play in the world.
Comfort
Another element in the workplace that employees often cite as driving down their satisfaction is the comfort level of their office. Whether it’s the physical or emotional aspects of it, comfort is an essential part of any workspace. A good place to start when thinking about making your workplace more comfortable is with ergonomic furniture. Ergonomic furniture is a great way to improve your employee’s health and comfort levels at the same time, leading to a boost in satisfaction and engagement.
There are several different ways in which your workplace can have an impact on employee engagement. The good news is that whether it’s through design, comfort, or purpose, there are several ways you can work to improve your workspace, your employees’ satisfaction rates, and their engagement levels.
For more ways you can create an engaged office space, check out our latest blog post “Habits of Productive Employees.”