The impact of office workspace on the satisfaction of employees and their overall health - research presentation.

Abstract

Background : The present article addresses the links between the real-estate factors of the workspace on employee satisfaction and their impact on the overall health of employees. The purpose of the research is to facilitate the improvement of employee health through the application of base parameters, and consequently, the changes of workspace and work processes. The research tests two hypotheses: real-estate factors have a significant impact on employee satisfaction with the workspace; and that satisfaction of employees with the workspace has a significant impact on the overall health of employees. Methodology : We carried out a quantitative research with a broad range of different questions, scales and differentials, whereby the majority of instruments was originally constructed with suitable measurement characteristics. Testing of the questionnaire with the method of internal consistency showed that the questionnaire demonstrates a high level of consistency. The entire questionnaire includes 163 variables divided into content sections: general questions, business building and workspace, workspace design, habits, conditions in the workspace, organisational culture, health care, physical health condition, mental health condition. In July and August 2010, the questionnaire was completed by 1,036 employees from entities in the service sector, i.e. the financial sector, health sector, civil service and others. All the respondents included in the research sample worked in offices. The questionnaire was anonymous in accordance with ethical standards. The results were statistically analysed with the application of factor analysis, which served as a basis for identifying the important factors, while we applied structural equation modelling for verifying the statistically significant mutual effects. Furthermore, we analysed the results and carried out statistical calculations to test the hypotheses. Results : The results show that real-estate factors of the workspace – both in terms of the assessment of business building and position of the employee, as well as the workspace design – have an impact on the satisfaction of employees, and consequently, their assessment of health. On the basis of solutions of structural equation modelling, we established that: the cleanliness of the workspace, lighting of the workspace, orientation of the workspace, regulation of lighting and regulation of air-conditioning in the premises, have a statistically significant impact on the satisfaction of employees with the workspace. With the aid of factor analysis and analysis of the structural equation modelling, as well as in accordance with the set hypotheses, we tested whether the ‘employment satisfaction’ factor affects the ‘overall health’ factor. We established a significant negative link between these two factors. Conclusions : We established a statistically significant impact of real-estate factors of the workspace on the satisfaction of employees, and consequently, the assessment of their overall health. We highlight the need for additional analysis and research of the effect of relevant factors on the health of employees, as well as monitoring thereof through preventive and periodic testing of the health of employees in the work environment.