Office life survey - synopsis

Citation

(1998), "Office life survey - synopsis", Facilities, Vol. 16 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.1998.06916cab.011

Office life survey - synopsis

Office life survey ­ synopsis

The nationwide Office Life survey was commissioned by Paragon Business Furniture and carried out by ICM Research who interviewed a sample of 2,090 office workers (1,005 women, 1,085 men) who spend the majority of their day at a desk.

Quotas were set so the analysis could be conducted across six different industry types:

(1) manufacturing;

(2) media, sales and marketing;

(3) service industry;

(4) financial services;

(5) public sector;

(6) information technology.

Quotas were also set by region with the data being weighted to match national proportions for office workers.

Interviewing took place between Monday 7 July and Friday 18 July 1997. Interviews were conducted face-to-face.

Questions and main findings

(1) On an average day do you prefer to work in an environment where you are part of a large department, small team, on your own or where your team mates frequently change? (base ­ all respondents): large department ­ 21 per cent, small team ­ 52 per cent, on their own ­ 9 per cent, where team ­ mates frequently change ­ 2 per cent.

(2) Have you moved office or desk in the last two years? (base ­ all respondents): Yes ­ 51 per cent, no ­ 49 per cent.

(3) How many times have you changed desks or offices in the last two years? (base ­ all who have moved office/desk in the last two years: 1,068 people): once ­ 45 per cent, twice ­ 23 per cent, three times ­ 15 per cent, more than three times ­ 14 per cent, (mean: 2.06).

(4) Which reason best explains why you had to move desks or office? (base ­ all who have moved office/desk in the last two years: 1,068 people): departmental re-organization ­ 37 per cent, joining new company ­ 31 per cent, job change within the same company ­ 16 per cent, moved into new offices on the same site ­ 13 per cent, relocation ­ 16 per cent, new staff joining ­ 8 per cent, downsizing ­ 2 per cent.

(5) Do you think your job is now safer than a year ago? (base ­ all respondents): yes ­ 27 per cent, no ­ 20 per cent, no different ­ 52 per cent.

(6) Which reason best explains why you feel more optimistic about your prospects? (base ­ all who feel their job is safer now: 570 people): company is more successful ­ 34 per cent, feel valued by the company ­ 32 per cent, change in government ­ 19 per cent, upturn in economy generally ­ 16 per cent, company is investing in training and development ­ 13 per cent.

(7) Which of these reasons best describes why you feel more pessimistic about your prospects? (base ­ all who feel their job is not safe: 431 people): economy not improving ­ 23 per cent, do not feel valued by company ­ 19 per cent, change in government ­ 14 per cent, company not successful ­ 12 per cent, company not investing in training and development ­ 11 per cent.

(8) Of these, which three things would you say are the most important motivational factors in a job? (base ­ all respondents): good salary ­ 80 per cent, career prospects ­ 51 per cent, job security ­ 42 per cent, flexible hours ­ 25 per cent, challenging tasks ­ 20 per cent, company pension plan ­ 14 per cent, attractive work environment ­ 12 per cent, bonus schemes ­ 8 per cent, status ­ 8 per cent, receiving training ­ 7 per cent, company car/allowance ­ 6 per cent, problem solving ­ 6 per cent, use of latest technology ­ 5 per cent, private healthcare ­ 4 per cent, regular appraisals ­ 4 per cent, company shares ­ 4 per cent, childcare provision ­ 3 per cent, subsidized canteen ­ 3 per cent, subsidized gym membership ­ 1 per cent.

(9) Which of these do you actually have? (base ­ all respondents): good salary ­ 60 per cent, career prospects ­ 43 per cent, job security ­ 41 per cent, flexible hours ­ 40 per cent, challenging tasks ­ 40 per cent, company pension plan ­ 41 per cent, attractive work environment ­ 24 per cent, bonus schemes ­ 22 per cent, status ­ 22 per cent, receiving training ­ 32 per cent, company car/allowance ­ 17 per cent, problem solving ­ 34 per cent, use of latest technology ­ 35 per cent, private healthcare ­ 16 per cent, regular appraisals ­ 27 per cent, company shares ­ 15 per cent, childcare provision ­ 5 per cent, subsidized canteen ­ 17 per cent, subsidized gym membership ­ 7 per cent.

(10) Which of these do you like about your present office environment? (base ­ all respondents): companionship/friendliness of colleagues ­ 52 per cent, non-smoking environment ­ 51 per cent, office location ­ 42 per cent, enough desk space to work in comfort ­ 35 per cent, latest technology available ­ 34 per cent, modern/light/airy/ pleasant office ­ 30 per cent, space to meet with colleagues away from your desk ­ 18 per cent, stress-free atmosphere ­ 15 per cent, being able to smoke ­ 6 per cent.

(11) Which of these do you dislike about your present office environment? (base ­ all respondents): stressful atmosphere ­ 27 per cent, lack of companionship/ friendliness of colleagues ­ 4 per cent, non-smoking environment ­ 5 per cent, office location ­ 13 per cent, do not have enough desk space to work in comfort ­ 19 per cent, do not have the latest technology available ­ 12 per cent, office is not modern/light/airy/pleasant office ­ 17 per cent, lack of space to meet with colleagues away from your desk ­ 14 per cent, not being able to smoke at my desk ­ 5 per cent.

(12) Which of these do you like about your job? (base ­ all respondents): job satisfaction ­ 60 per cent, companionship/ friendliness of colleagues ­ 44 per cent, money ­ 41 per cent, freedom to plan own working day ­ 41 per cent, challenge in getting tasks completed ­ 38 per cent, job security ­ 28 per cent, office location ­ 28 per cent, allows me to develop my career ­ 26 per cent, work is not completely office based ­ 25 per cent, non-smoking environment ­ 24 per cent, my boss ­ 19 per cent, after-work social life ­ 18 per cent, office is modern, light, airy ­ 17 per cent, learning about new equipment ­ 17 per cent, regular brainstorming with colleagues ­ 14 per cent, my desk ­ 12 per cent, office politics ­ 6 per cent, none of these ­ 2 per cent.

(13) Which of these do you dislike about your job? (base ­ all respondents): pressure to get things done ­ 31 per cent, repetitive nature of work ­ 21 per cent, office politics ­ 19 per cent, the hours ­ 17 per cent, form filing ­ 15 per cent, working weekends ­ 15 per cent, job insecurity ­ 10 per cent, outdated equipment/ process ­ 10 per cent, office is dull/dark/ stuffy ­ 10 per cent, office location ­ 9 per cent.

(14) Do you ever worry or think about work when you are on holiday? (base ­ all respondents): no ­ 64 per cent, yes ­ 36 per cent.

(15) Which of these items do you keep on or near your desk? (base ­ all respondents): computer terminal ­ 79 per cent, calendar ­ 69 per cent, mouse pad ­ 64 per cent, Post-it® notes ­ 62 per cent, my own coffee mug ­ 42 per cent, security pass ­ 23 per cent, photograph of family/ partner/hero/pets ­ 21 per cent, sweets ­ 19 per cent, vase of flowers/pot plant­ 14 per cent, company mission statement ­ 11 per cent, holiday postcards ­ 11 per cent, radio ­ 9 per cent change for coffee machine ­ 8 per cent, ashtray ­ 7 per cent, toys ­ 5 per cent, restaurant guide ­ 3 per cent none of these ­ 3 per cent.

(16) Which of the following do you keep in you desk drawers? (base ­ all respondents): aspirin ­ 37 per cent, snacks ­ 26 per cent, car keys ­ 25 per cent, confidential files ­ 23 per cent, magazines ­ 19 per cent, petty cash ­ 17 per cent, deodorant ­ 16 per cent, cosmetics/ shaving kit ­ 12 per cent, cigarettes ­ 12 per cent, spare pair of tights/shirt/tie ­ 11 per cent, novel ­ 9 per cent, underwear ­ 3 per cent, alcohol ­ 2 per cent.

(17) Which of these advantages do your bosses enjoy? (base ­ all respondents): their own office ­ 57 per cent, more privacy ­ 44 per cent, bigger desks ­ 34 per cent, better furniture ­ 33 per cent, dedicated car parking space ­ 31 per cent, own secretary ­ 30 per cent, better carpet on the floors ­ 16 per cent, nearer windows ­ 16 per cent, better technology ­ 12 per cent, able to decorate as they wish ­ 9 per cent, sofas ­ 5 per cent, own coffee machine/bar ­ 5 per cent, none of these ­ 19 per cent.

(18) Which of the following would you change to improve your office? (base ­ all respondents): get air-conditioning ­ 36 per cent, redesign/redecorate ­ 26 per cent, more space ­ 24 per cent, improving filing system ­ 22 per cent, improve lighting ­ 21 per cent, get a new chair so I do not get backaches ­ 20 per cent, get a bigger desk so I do not get bruised knees ­ 16 per cent, get a photocopier ­ 16 per cent, get my own office ­ 13 per cent, conceal cables so I do not trip over them ­ 12 per cent, minimize computer malfunctions ­ 12 per cent, get better coffee/coffee making facilities ­ 11 per cent, get a window seat ­ 10 per cent, get a microwave oven for staff kitchen ­ 8 per cent, remove partitions ­ 4 per cent, nothing ­ 11 per cent.

(19) Do you think that by making these changes your productivity would go up? (base ­ respondents who indicated an improvement: 1,856 people): yes ­ 55 per cent, no ­ 44 per cent.

(20) Do you think your present office environment has a negative effect on you and your colleague's productivity? (base ­ all respondents): No ­ 68 per cent, yes ­ 31 per cent.

(21) Which of the things on the card have you ever done? (base ­ all respondents): taken a sick day when you were not ill ­ 40 per cent, flirted with colleagues ­ 29 per cent, passed rumours about your colleagues ­ 22 per cent, played computer games during office hours ­ 22 per cent, been drunk, intoxicated during office hours ­ 20 per cent, stolen equipment or stationary ­ 20 per cent, made long-distance phone calls from the office to friends abroad ­ 16 per cent, sent e-mails to your friends outside the office ­ 14 per cent, fallen asleep at your desk ­ 13 per cent, smoked in the lavatories ­ 9 per cent, had sex in the office ­ 5 per cent, used company credit card to buy items intended for private use ­ 5 per cent, used sex to further your career ­ 2 per cent, looked at pornography on the Internet ­ 2 per cent, none of these ­ 21 per cent.

(22) Do you currently use or think you will be using in the future, any of these new ways of working? (base ­ all respondents): working from home ­ 25 per cent, hot desking ­ 12 per cent, romping ­ 11 per cent, hotelling ­ 5 per cent.

(23) Thinking about "hot desking", would the loss of personal territory put you off this way of working? (base ­ all respondents): yes ­ 60 per cent, no ­ 36 per cent.

(24) Thinking about "hotelling", would never being at your own desk put you off this way of working? (base ­ all respondents): yes ­ 54 per cent, no ­ 42 per cent.

(25) Thinking about "romping", would constantly searching for suitable space to work put you off this way of working? (base ­ all respondents): yes ­ 66 per cent, no ­ 30 per cent.

(26) Thinking about "working from home", would the loneliness and working long hours/not being able to switch off, put you off this way of working? (base ­ all respondents): no ­ 52 per cent, yes ­ 46 per cent.