Enhancing positive work outcomes through workplace design

What the paper says

Purpose Although remote work has gained prominence in recent years due to its flexibility, it has also introduced challenges related to creativity at work, work engagement and staff retention. To address these issues and encourage employees to work on-site, some organizations have focused on enhancing workplace design. However, research on the effects of workplace design satisfaction (WDS) on employee outcomes remains scarce. This study aims to fill this gap by proposing a broad research model that explores the effects of WDS on relevant work outcomes, such as, work engagement, job satisfaction, creativity at work and turnover intention. Design/methodology/approach The model was tested using a sample of 250 participants. Data was collected from an online questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Findings The results show that WDS enhances job satisfaction, reduces turnover intention and boosts work engagement, but has no significant impact on creativity at work. Findings also suggest that one dimension of WDS – satisfaction with green spaces – has a stronger negative impact on turnover intention on male, older and more senior respondents. Results also point out that the positive impact of creativity on job satisfaction is stronger on older employees. Practical implications The research findings underscore the importance of investing in workplace design. By doing so, organizations can enhance staff job satisfaction, boost work engagement and improve employee retention. Originality/value This study enhances the limited existing research on organizational outcomes related to workplace design by providing novel empirical insights on the topic.