Productivity may be directly affected by non-conducive work spaces

The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) Labour Productivity report is due for release on the 8th July 2016. In the April 2016 release, ONS statistics revealed that labour productivity, as measured by output per hour, fell by 1.2 per cent, and was some 14 per cent below an extrapolation based on its pre-downturn trend.

According to Tim Oldman, CEO of Leesman, a global firm specialised in measuring workplace effectiveness, the pending ONS release will paint a similar negative picture. “Regardless of the potential fluctuations contained within this week’s quarterly ONS report, labour productivity per employee has failed to markedly rise since the global downturn. Considering the recent surge of economic turmoil, it is fair to assume the UK will continue to boast an abysmal level of overall output.”

Oldman argues that it is imperative that business leaders analyse the reasons behind poor productivity in order to improve business performance. 

Having spoken to over 155,000 employees worldwide, the latest figures (Q1 2016) have revealed that only 55 per cent of employees believe their office environment allows them to work effectively globally. Surveying 11,812 employees across 108 work spaces over the past 12 months, one in three find it hard to be productive in their work environments.

“This is having a continued impact on employees and creating ‘toxic workplaces’ where efforts are being met with business environments that are simply not supporting people in the role they are employed to undertake,” Oldman added.

 “There’s a woeful lack of science being applied to the workplace environment. Organisations must include the workplace in their productivity focus. Those that do will boost their organisation’s performance.”