A recent survey of 1,014 UK workers in full, or part-time work has revealed that more than half (53%) of job seekers would turn down a role if they did not like the company’s office or working environment.
When asked about factors that would influence their decision to take a new job, one in two respondents said that the location of the office was top of their list.
Outdated décor was next with 41%, while a lack of natural light would put off 38% of UK workers.
32% say that broken or outdated furniture would influence their decision to take the job and the same number said a dirty or unhygienic workplace is a definite deal-breaker.
Mark Kelly, marketing manager at e-tailer Furniture123.co.uk which carried out the research, said:
“The data shows that companies need to pay attention to much more than salaries and benefits when trying to attract top talent.
“The average UK worker spends 8,060 hours a year at work so it’s understandable that the environment can be a deal maker or breaker for many.
“Employers looking to attract the most talented staff in their field should keep this in mind when inviting candidates to interview.
“It’s not so easy to change the location of the office, however they can ensure that there are on-site catering facilities and breakout areas for lunch and even arrange car pools or an employee bus service that connects to local transport links.
“Also ensuring the space is always kept clean and tidy, furniture is in good condition and the décor feels fresh and modern is a great place to start.”
The top five workspace deal-breakers for job seekers:
Location – 50%
Outdated décor – 41%
Lack of natural light – 38%
Broken or old furniture – 32%
Dirty and unhygienic workspace – 32%
Claire Bond, Director at Bond Williams says:
“It’s not surprising that potential employees are putting more emphasis on being able to work in a clean, bright and modern environment. Getting this right has a substantial impact on a company’s ability to attract new employees and first impression really do count. A sense of pride goes a long way and reflects the values that are important to your company.
Our business relocation to newly refurbished offices in the heart of Bournemouth was influenced by this, our old offices no longer reflected the quality of our brand and we wanted our team to be proud of their environment. The new office has also enabled space for growth, and as it is largely open plan, our teams are able to work much more collaboratively, which can only benefit our ability to place professional, high-quality staff into work.
We are also now able to offer our clients meeting room and boardroom space that was in high demand previously, so they can continue with confidential offsite interviews or if they are lacking space internally.”
