February 1, 2008—Blumberg Capital Partners, the US investment firm and commercial real estate investment manager, has released results of a national survey to gauge the impact of office building conditions on worker attitudes, productivity and motivation.
Among the results, one in three workers surveyed said they have either accepted or left a job due to “the condition of the building and/or the amenities offered,” and nearly half said their office buildings and office environments were “bland” (36%), “dumpy” (7%) or “stodgy” (4%).
Among survey respondents, the most frequent complaint (47%) was extreme office temperatures due to poor heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems. About a quarter of the respondents said the cleanliness of their buildings was either “marginal” or “appalling.”
The survey found that 80% of workers said the overall condition of their office buildings affects how they perceive their employers, and 69% said the condition of their office buildings affects their productivity and motivation.
Given the increasing value placed on office amenities, Blumberg Office Properties, the real estate investment arm of Blumberg Capital Partners, recently hired a luxury hotel executive to spearhead the rollout of five-star, premium services to its properties. The program encompasses on-site concierge support, event tickets, health clubs, conference facilities, advanced technology and energy-efficient utilities.
The survey also examined office security issues. While 89% of respondents believe their office buildings are safe in terms of their personal security, some 34% of respondents raised concerns about the safety of their personal belongings. In terms of security measures in demand by workers, 78% cited security cameras. More than half cited “security guards on patrol” as another effective tactic, while 28% want “metal detectors or other weapons-check measures.”
When asked to rank office building amenities, workers cited “covered parking” as the most important feature, followed closely by “subsidized cafeteria or restaurant,” “fitness or workout center” and “on-site day care.”
The survey was commissioned by Blumberg Capital Partners and conducted by Fleishman-Hillard Research to gauge office workers’ attitudes and opinions about various aspects of their office buildings. The findings are based on a national online survey of 500 adults who spend the majority of their workday in one office building. The poll was conducted from Dec. 14-17, 2007, using a nationwide Internet panel. The sample comprised 209 males and 291 females.
For complete survey results, see the Blumberg Web site.
