Study Links Workplace Design to Productivity
A new Canadian study reveals a strong link between workplace health, happiness, and business growth. The research suggests that to address productivity stagnation, employers must support healthy workplace design, services, and culture.
- The study, a collaboration between Sodexo Canada and Leger, is set against a backdrop of Canada's lagging productivity growth; Canadian business productivity fell by 0.6% over the past five years, in stark contrast to a 10.1% increase in the United States. - While 58% of Canadian employees rate their overall physical and mental health as good or excellent, a significant portion reports lesser well-being, with 3 in 10 describing it as fair and 1 in 10 as poor or very poor. - The research highlights that happy employees are 13% more productive. This aligns with broader findings that well-designed workspaces can enhance employee performance by up to 20%. - Specific design elements have a measurable impact; incorporating natural greenery can increase productivity by 15%, while poor air quality and lighting can decrease it by 6-9%. - Globally, the study finds that nearly half (48%) of employees are dealing with burnout, and only one in five feel engaged, costing an estimated US$438 billion in lost productivity in 2024. - Key drivers for Canadian employees' health and productivity include job security (48%), flexible work arrangements (37%), a supportive culture (26%), and social interaction with colleagues (24%). - There's a generational divide in perceptions of employer support; those under 55 are significantly more likely to feel strongly supported by their employer's efforts in workplace design and culture than those over 55 (44% vs. 33%). - The issue is timely as Canada's real GDP per person was lower in 2023 than it was in 2014, indicating that economic growth has been driven by population increases rather than genuine improvements in productivity.
