The wellbeing risks of returning to ‘crude office environments’

Return-to-office dialogue is at an all-time high, yet a topic that flies under the radar is the state of the offices that workers could be going back to and how they often aren't up to scratch.

Amazon’s recent decision to call upon its global workforce to return to the office (RTO) has inflamed an already contentious debate around the right to flexibility in the modern-day workplace.

Common soliloquies are spouted in these discussions, but one that is often left out is the state of the offices that workers will be returning to. As we know, some workplaces, due to their layout, can be a cesspool of psychosocial hazards – primarily open-space offices.

To speak on the risks that can be associated with certain office spaces, HR Leader reached out to Sue Parker, career strategist, communications expert, and owner of DARE Group Australia.

“I believe that one of the biggest reasons why staff are hesitant to return to the office is because of inappropriate and crude office environments. Noisy, cramped, lack of privacy and comfortable decent sized work areas are not exactly big drawcards, quite the reverse.”

“The PR push over the decades that open plan offices would positively revolutionise workplaces and staff cohesion and collaboration has been proven to be hogwash. Frankly, the open plan office brainwashing of great value and happiness was total nonsense,” Parker said.

“The impact of being stuffed like agency-less sardines without cubicles, offices and appropriate space were dire and nonsense. Mental health, personal and physical wellbeing were all compromised.”

“The notion that sitting almost on each other’s laptops was a good idea was dangerous with a perverse incentive outcome. The warm fuzzy and highly productive outcomes sought didn’t exactly materialise and delivered more workplace angst and division,” she said.

Despite the widespread push for open office spaces, the real-time consequences can be precarious for workers – especially women. These consequences can muster hatred towards RTO mandates as employers are ultimately forcing their employees to work in an environment where they sometimes feel vulnerable and uncomfortable for multiple reasons.

“I believe that one of the biggest reasons why staff are hesitant to return to the office is because of inappropriate and crude office environments. Design firm Hassell found only 23 per cent of Australian workers felt they had enough space to focus and only 35 per cent said they had enough space to collaborate.”

“Researchers reported in Scientific American that the reality of open plan offices to build collaboration actually drove workers into more isolation and the designs may heighten office sexism and health troubles.”

“I believe this is a disturbing issue, particularly for women. The impact of a lack of privacy and agency in their personal space would definitely have a negative impact on their wellbeing and self-esteem,” Parker said.

Along with these serious issues that can arise if the working environment is not fit for purpose, team culture and employee engagement can also take a hit. Anxiety and judgment can arise in an office that lacks legitimate privacy spaces, which leads to a toxic environment for all involved.

“Having to find a meeting room results in productivity and culture being compromised. The whole office gossip machine of something ‘confidential is happening’ spreads like wildfire and causes worry, especially to staff who are more anxious.”

“Leaders and managers certainly need proper offices with closed doors to have those important and confidential discussions with staff and stakeholders. Confidentiality and privacy matters to agency and wellbeing,” she continued.

At the end of the day, if employers want their workers to be in the office, the least they can do incentive-wise is create a space or environment that limits psychosocial risks. If workers are returning to an environment that they deem as corrosive, then that stigma attached to that space could lead them to walk out of that organisation.

If they fail to have that space that sets up their employees for success, the business and culture ramifications can be severe.

“For Australian workers and organisations there must be a recalibration and return to offices [that have] plenty of private space and less noise,” Parker said.