Study finds characteristics of the ultimate office

THE perfect workplace is three miles from home, has al fresco board meetings and a communal selection of fruit and snacks, according to a new study.

Furniture At Work carried out the research to find the perfect office. Picture: TSPL

The survey for Furniture at Work, which asked 2,000 office employees to describe their “ultimate office”, found free tea and coffee is not enough when it comes to keeping workers happy.

Workers now expect floor-to-ceiling windows, personalised parking spaces and an on-site creche.

A great view, music playing constantly and an espresso machine also appeared in the ideal list of features, as well as hair-straighteners in the toilets.

In reality, four in ten employees reported that their current workplace has not changed in years, with 21 per cent claiming that their office decor dates back to the 1980s.

A spokesman for Furniture at Work said: “It’s fair to say that Google has led the way with their fresh take on office life.

“Contrary to the old days, sitting on the floor during meetings and having plenty of communal areas and time outdoors is now seen as a great way to work.

“Sadly, the majority of offices were built decades ago, which can cause many workers to feel demotivated.

“No employee should feel cramped or ill due to their outdated surroundings, so it could be worth mentioning it to your supervisors.”

The survey showed adults to prefer a relaxing start to their working day, which would include a three-mile commute from their homes.

And in contrast to the standard office block, four in ten said they would like to work in a converted manor or a warehouse – ideally next to a river.

A desire to work outdoors was also evident in the poll, with the top feature of a perfect office being a garden space for board meetings and summer socialising.

A great view from the roof appeared in the list of ideal features, as well as picnic tables, sun loungers and an array of exotic plants.

Being well fed was also paramount for today’s office personnel as in addition to free fruit bowls, one in four wanted a buffet trolley to deliver cakes and drinks every Friday.

Almost half said they would like a canteen with a daily-changing menu, while others chose a self-catering kitchen with all the mod cons.