Not all of us are lucky enough to have the luxury of nap rooms and slides in our office. However, CV-Library has found that over half (56%) of professionals would be more likely to apply for a job that had a unique or cool workspace.
The survey of 1,200 workers found that the younger generation were the most likely to look for work in companies with ‘funky’ workplaces, with 81.2% of millennials and generation Z workers agreeing to this statement.
So what is it about cool workspaces that interests today’s workers? We’ll discuss in more detail below.
What features make up a cool workspace?
The study explored how UK professionals felt about working in a cool environment and the effect it has on their outputs at work. It also asked respondents to reveal what cool features their current workplace had. Some of the key findings include:
- 3% of Brits think that the design of their workplace influence how productive they are
- Currently, one in 10 (8.7%) Brits work somewhere with cool features
- Top features include: A games room (49.5%), a bar (35.5%), a pool table (32.7%), table tennis (25.2%) and a cinema (14%)
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library shares his thoughts on these findings:
“It’s interesting to see that while these ‘cool’ or unique workplaces are desirable, only one in 10 professionals currently work in one. Consider whether you could implement some interesting features at your workplace. For some companies, an interesting workspace is a top priority and for others it simply isn’t.”
Biggins provides advice to companies that want to attract talented candidates into their workplace:
“It’s understandable if this isn’t feasible at your company and in some instances, it could be considered distracting. If you’re not able to offer these types of cool features, think about other perks which may be considered unique, such as a day off on your birthday or free team lunches.”
Why do candidates look for ‘cool’ or different workplaces?
According to the study, just over half (50.3%) of professionals said that they would like to work in a quirky or different workplace because it would be fun. While 18.9% said they have a desire to work for innovative companies.
Alongside this, 13.7% even felt it would keep them motivated. While 10.8% said that the interesting features would give them an opportunity to bond with colleagues.
Despite these results, a further 50.2% of professionals do agree that these types of features are very much a fad, suggesting that the hype around them may wear off in the future.
Biggins continues:
“It’s clear that workers don’t want to feel bored at work and want to be motivated by their environment. Therefore, incorporating different features could give staff a chance to have fun at work.”
“After all, we spend the majority of our time in the workplace and it’s important that it’s enjoyable. If an employee feels unfulfilled at your workplace, they may choose to search for a company with an environment more suitable to their needs.”
In summary
It appears that these ‘cool’ or unique workspaces do appeal to professionals. But whether this is a temporary fad or a new direction for businesses remains uncertain. However, it’s clear that candidates are keen on companies that do stand out from the crowd. So consider what works for your business and don’t be pressured to jump on a trend that isn’t going to suit your company or culture.
For more information on work trends why don’t you check out our research on UK professional’s top career priorities.
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.
