Incentive - July 2008 - (Page 14)

IN THE NEWS Employees Get “Hot” Over Workplace Conditions BY ANDREA DOYLE hat is the biggest complaint amongst office workers? Office temperature. What amenities do they say the perfect office features? Nap areas. Energy-efficient elevators. Color (get rid of the white walls!). Free food. Office environment makes a huge difference in workers’ productivity and motivation. More than 69 percent of workers say the condition of their office building affects their productivity and motivation, either positively (49 percent) or negatively (20 percent). A third have taken or left a job because of the ameni- W Incentive ties or unsavory conditions of a building. Blumberg Office Properties commissioned this survey to gauge the impact of office building conditions on workers’ attitudes, productivity, and motivation. The findings are based on a national online survey of 500 adults who spend the majority of their workday in one office building. For a copy of the survey, go to www.blumbergcapitalpartners.com. In the survey, workers note a lack of basic needs, such as hot water in restrooms, clean carpets and comfortable chairs, while others seek higher-end amenities like workout facilities, free snacks and coffee, and nap rooms. “The companies of corporate America have long been judged on the quality of work environments they provide to their employees,” said Philip Blumberg, chairman and CEO of Blumberg Capital Partners. “The results of our survey confirm that office conditions, indeed, directly impact employee retention, recruitment, and productivity.” The survey, which drew more than 5,000 comments and suggestions, painted a diverse picture of workers’ wants, including: • It would be nice to have better artwork. • Security measures, such as metal detectors and security guards. • Area to lay down for a quick nap during lunch. • A good rug cleaning. • Free popcorn, coffee, and fruit once a week. • Fix the roof so it doesn’t leak. Incentivemag.com’s Question of the Month How often do you include social or environmental responsibility in your incentive programs? We include it in almost all of our programs 21% We include it in many of our programs (between 25-75 percent) 19% We include it in a few of our programs (less than 25 percent) 21% We rarely, if ever, include it 38% Visit INCENTIVEMAG.COM/POLL to weigh in on the month’s question SOURCE—WWW.INCENTIVEMAG.COM/POLL 14 | | July 2008 | incentivemag.com http://Incentivemag.com http://www.blumbergcapitalpartners.com http://INCENTIVEMAG.COM/POLL http://INCENTIVEMAG.COM/POLL http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Incentive - July 2008

Incentive - July 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: Accentuate the Positive In The News Cover Story: Three Profiles in Good Corporate Citizenship Case Study Incentive Interview Senior Secrets To Thine Own Self be True Incentive Primer Motivation@Work Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do Take the Spa Home Not the Only Game in Town Here and Now Writing and Desktop Gifts Watches and Clocks Gift Cards: Health and Wellness Incentives Good Health Is Not Its Own Incentive Advertiser Index Last Word

Incentive - July 2008

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