Productivity studies are very valuable assets, especially for employers. The result of certain productivity studies can allow employers to make, at often, small changes to their offices or environments and reap great improvement in the productivity of their employees.
Do you feel that your employees are as productive as they can be?
There is a chance that this is not the case. That is why we delved into different productivity studies for you.
Below you will find the key findings of certain productivity studies. Try and implement these findings into adopting changes to your workplace, and chances are you will find that productivity in your workers will increase.
Employee Productivity Studies’ Relation to Workflow:
Employee productivity or workforce productivity is the valuation of the efficiency of workers.
This productivity can be determined either in terms of the output produced in a specific time or in comparison to the average for employees doing similar work.
Employee productivity is important for any business, as it establishes the success of that business.
Why not read our blog post on the best productivity apps.
These productivity studies can help you improve productivity in your workforce.
The productivity studies are divided into the following categories:
- Remote Working
- Improve Lighting in Working Environments
- Office Temperature Affects Productivity
- Focus on Employees’ Wellbeing
#1 Remote Working
There have been multiple studies conducted on the benefits of working remotely. Studies have shown how working remotely, or having that flexibility affects workers and their productivity.
1. A survey on productivity studies conducted by TINYpluse entitled ‘What Leaders Need to Know About Remote Workers’.
This survey found that 91% of the participants surveyed believed that they were more productive when telecommuting.
According to the survey, 509 US employees who work remotely, as compared to surveys from 200,000 employees across all work arrangements rated themselves happier and more valued at work.
The reasons employees gave for working from home varied. 41% of those surveyed saying that they enjoyed having the freedom of choosing where and when to work.
The reasons behind telecommuting were found to account for different feelings about their remote working environment.
22% of respondents said that they work remotely because their job requires them to. This 22% had different answers concerning the 41% freedom-loving telecommuters.
On a scale from 1 to 10, employees required to work remotely because of their job were found to quantify themselves less happy in regards to
- How happy they were at work
- How valued they felt at work
- How likely they saw themselves working at the same job in a year
As compared to those who telecommuted due to their love for the freedom it gave.
The study thus highlighted the importance of flexibility, this is regarding both being able to work remotely but also not working remotely.
The survey also found that the workers’ schedules affected how happy remote workers were.
The survey found that on a scale of 1 to 10, remote workers who had a seven-day workweek with shorter hours rated themselves the happiest at 8.49 out of 10. And then in descending order:
- Random/ on-call/sporadic throughout the day
- Typical workweek hours
- Unusual work week hours
- Other
2. A survey conducted by CoSo Cloud, the ‘Remote Collaborative Worker Survey’.
This survey found that 77% of employees felt they were more productive while they were working off-site.
Furthermore, the survey found that 30% of those who worked remotely felt they accomplished more in less time. And 24% felt that they accomplished more in the same amount of time.
Moreover, 23% of those surveyed felt more willing to work for longer hours, than they would on-site, to be able to accomplish more.
There were also 52% of responders who said they were less likely to take time off when sick, or even otherwise.
3. Condeco’s Modern Workplace Report 2018.
Condeco’s report found that nearly all the business leaders surveyed were open and supportive of flexible working practices.
The report states that the findings show a wider shift towards the requirement for better work-life balance and allowing people more control over their working lives.
Out of the businesses that were surveyed, 64% of global business leaders felt flexible working had a direct positive impact on productivity.
#2 Improve Lighting in Working Environments
The type of lighting and the amount of lighting in an office has been seen to affect workers in multiple studies conducted.
Poor lighting in an office can affect employees’ mood and ability to focus. Moreover, offices with less lighting proved that their workers were seen to take more breaks, feel tired, and even showed signs of depression.
4. Studies conducted by Lighting Research Centre.
Multiple types of research conducted by the Lighting Research Centre has found that light greatly affects individuals.
Studies conducted found that exposure to light strongly influences alertness. But not only that, but the timing of the circadian clock also affected individuals in this way.
5. “Impact of Windows and Daylight Exposure on Overall Health and Sleep Quality of Office Workers”, by Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
The study found that those workers who had windows in their office had an increased sense of health.
Moreover, those workers with windows in their office were found to exercise more in general but also be better rested. Recording 46 more minutes of sleep on average per night as compared to those that did not have windows in their office.
The study found that the simple incorporation of natural light in a worker’s day had a drastic direct effect in being able to boost productivity as well as reduce depression.
#3 Office Temperature Affects Productivity
Whether the office is too hot or too cold, studies have suggested that the temperature inside an office can affect the workers and their productivity.
Experts suggest the working temperature should be between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit to be ideal.
6. A study entitled The Substitutability of Physical and Social Warmth in Daily Life.
The study conducted demonstrated the vital significance of interpersonal warmth.
Overly cold temperatures were seen to increase feelings of sadness and loneliness, and in turn, result in lowered productivity.
7. A survey conducted by CareerBuilder.
The survey found that 20% of the participants admitted to having argued with a co-worker about the temperature in the office, either that it was too hot or too cold.
Also, 18% said they secretly had changed the temperature during the winter at some time.
The survey found that 53% found that their productivity was lower when they felt that the office was too cold.
Alternatively, 71% felt that they were less productive when they were working in an office they felt was too warm.
8. A study conducted by an architecture firm, Architect AHMM.
The research recorded that overheating can impact worker’s productivity but also overheating can also pose a hazard to their health.
Moreover, the study found that concerning the cost of cooling, the losses caused by the lowered productivity from overheating was 10 times more.
Also, findings suggested that temperature was not the only element that determined comfort among the workers.
Perception of comfort, among the participants, was also found to be related to the ventilation strategy in the office.
Improved ventilation was seen to impact perceived productivity.
#4 Focus on Employees’ Wellbeing
When you focus on employees’ wellbeing, you ensure that they are working to their utmost productivity.
Not only that, you greatly reduce stress, and also reduce absence rates. And make for a better working environment for all overall.
9. Surveys conducted by CoreNet Global and CBRE Group, Inc.
The surveys conducted found that companies focusing on employee health and wellness reported greater employee engagement, retention rates, and a decline in absenteeism.
Tim Venable at CoreNet Global said, “Corporations that take an active role in managing health and wellness programs for employees are seeing positive returns on those investments.”
The studies reported:
- 19% decrease in absenteeism
- 25% increased retention
- 47% increased employee engagement
The survey also asked about wellness design and construction elements. Respondents ranked the following order of importance:
- Ergonomic furniture
- Lighting quality
- Daylight and views
- Thermal comfort
- Air quality
Other programmatic features offered included, operating gyms, health clubs, implementing green cleaning standards, changing food options, and offering mental relaxation.
10. A study conducted by Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center School of Public Health.
The study conducted found that using standing desks was not only beneficial for the employees’ health but also increased productivity.
The group using the standing desks recorded 23% more successful calls than compared to those who were seated. Furthermore, by the end of the study, which was conducted over six months, the findings showed 53% more successful calls.
These findings can be attributed to the fact that standing desks promote circulation and thus bring more Oxygen to the brain. This in turn boosts mental clarity.
There are certain things that need to be considered before implementing standing desks, however.
- Make sure they are set up properly to avoid poor posture
- Make sure they are installed correctly to avoid injuries
- Make sure that employees do not have any other health issues that may result in the standing desks being detrimental to them.
11. A study published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The study showed that employees who spent 2.5 hours a week being physically active, reported that they felt more satisfied with the quantity and quality of their work.
The study also showed that there was a productivity boost when employees exercised before work.
Respondents felt they were more productive on days they exercised before work.
The study also highlighted the benefits of physical activity on employees in regards to depression.
Findings showed that physical activity resulted in employees being less likely to develop job burnout or become depressed.
Conclusion
These findings can help you implement necessary changes to your office environment or way of conducting work to allow for employees to work at their optimum productivity.
Try and adopt a proactive approach and make these changes not just for your business’ productivity but also for the wellbeing and happiness of your employees.
