Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Topics
News
Professional Performance
Management
Research
Information Management
Agile Working
Health & Wellbeing

Employees 'less productive with manager in room'

Open-access content Wednesday 22nd November 2017 — updated 7.14pm, Tuesday 26th May 2020
Web_EmployeeAndBoss_iStock-874291294

22 November 2017 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal


Over half of office workers would feel more comfortable and be more productive with their departmental manager sitting away from them, suggests research.

 

In a survey of more than 650 members of the UK public by office design and fit-out specialist Dale Office Interiors, 55 per cent say they would prefer their boss to be positioned in a private office rather than among the wider team.

 

One of the main reasons for this is that workers feel under undue pressure when a manager is constantly present, leading to a drop in concentration.

 

The findings come as open-plan workspaces see continued popularity, with more than eight million UK employees thought to work in this inclusive style of office.

 

In response to the question "would you prefer your boss to work in an open-plan office with you, or be in a private office?" 30 per cent of participants say they would "feel more comfortable" with their manager in a private office.

 

A further 25 per cent believe that they would 'be more productive' without their manager close by.

 

Just 14.4 per cent say their productivity would increase if their boss were more visible within the department.

 

But the findings also highlight some of the benefits of open-plan working. Some 29 per cent of respondents feel they would enjoy better communication with their manager in such an environment.

 

Interestingly, the research reveals discrepancies in the preferences of male and female employees: while men report feeling more comfortable in an open-plan space (54.3 per cent), women seem to prefer working with their manager in a private office (54.5 per cent).

 

This finding appears to contradict previous research suggesting that male employees thrive in a more hierarchical set-up while women favour a more 'egalitarian' office culture and layout.

 

Age also appeared to have an impact on responses to the poll.

 

For example, although employees aged between 18 and 44 express more favour towards an open-plan scheme for reasons of both better communication and increased productivity, their 45- to 64-year-old counterparts appear to perceive their productivity as higher when their manager is in a private office.

 

Overall, the findings suggest that designing and configuring a workspace requires flexibility. Despite the continued popularity of open-plan offices, these results show they are not necessarily conducive to the comfort or productivity of all staff.

 

Warren Bricknell, managing director of Dale Office Interiors, says: "The office as we have known it is becoming defunct. We need to give the users of the space - whether managers or general staff - the choice to work how and where they want to, to suit the task at the time.

 

"This is the way workspaces will have to go. It may be a desk or a booth, a beanbag or a conference table - but people want choice. It's about being outcomes-driven rather than having a rigid, traditional office layout and KPIs."

 

Also filed in:
Topics
News
Content
Professional Performance
Management
Research
Information Management
Agile Working
Health & Wellbeing

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Project Leader (Maternity Cover One Year Contract)

Cambridge
Circa £50,000 Pro Rata + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56378

Maintenance Supervisor

Surrey
Up to £43,000 + Excellent Package & Opportunities
Reference
56376

Regional Facilities Manager

South West England
Circa £40,000 + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56375
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2022 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ