Does the work environment influence productivity?

Not all of us are lucky enough to have the luxury of nap rooms and slides in our office. However, it’s been found that half (56.8%) of engineers would be more likely to apply for a job that had a unique or cool workplace. So does the work environment influence productivity?

That’s according to new research from CV-Library, the UK independent job site.

The survey of 1,200 workers explored how professionals felt about working in a cool environment and the effect it has on their outputs at work. It reveals that:

* 82.7% of engineering professionals think that the design of their workplace influences how productive they are

* Currently, one in 10 (8.4%) engineers work somewhere with cool features

* Top features include: A bar (50%), a games room (50%), a cinema (33.3%) and a pool table (33.3%)



Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, comments on the findings: “It’s interesting to see that while these ‘cool’ or unique workplaces are desirable, only one in 10 engineers currently work in one.

“Consider whether you could implement some interesting features at your workplace. For some companies, an interesting workspace is a top priority and for others it simply isn’t.

“It’s understandable if this isn’t feasible at your company and in some instances, it could be considered distracting. If you’re not able to offer these cool features, think about other perks which may be considered unique, such as a day off on your birthday or free lunches.”

According to the study, 43.5% of engineering professionals said they have a desire to work for innovative companies, while, 23.9% said that they would like to work in a quirky or different workplace because it would be fun.

Keeping motivated

Alongside this, 19.6% felt it would keep them motivated and 10.9% said that the interesting features would give them an opportunity to bond with colleagues.

Despite these results, a further 48.1% of professionals do agree that these types of features are very much a fad, suggesting that the hype around them may wear off.

Biggins continues: “It’s clear that engineers don’t want to feel bored at work and want to be motivated by their environment. Therefore, incorporating different features could give staff a chance to have fun at work.”

“After all, we spend the majority of our time in the workplace and it’s important that it’s enjoyable. If an employee feels unfulfilled at your workplace, they may choose to search for a company with an environment more suitable to their needs.”