Open offices backfire: remote workers shun them for quiet, private space
Employees working from home deliberately avoid activity-based flexible offices because they lack privacy and quiet spaces for focused work, a new study shows. The finding suggests companies betting on open-plan layouts to drive in-office attendance may be pushing workers further toward remote arrangements instead.
Originaltitel: Perceptions of activity-based flexible offices among onsite, hybrid and remote workers
This study compares perceptions of Activity-based Flexible Offices (AFOs) among remote, hybrid, and onsite workers. Cross-sectional survey data was collected from 1263 employees from a public service organisation in autumn 2022. The results revealed significant differences in how these groups perceive the physical work environment. Onsite workers reported the highest satisfaction with task support, while remote workers were least satisfied. Privacy ratings were low across all groups. Remote and hybrid workers commented that they worked from home primarily for tasks requiring concentration and confidentiality. The findings suggest that employees' perceptions of AFOs - including insufficient numbers of enclosed workspaces and meeting rooms - may influence the degree of remote work.