The link between work and wellbeing: New insights

Wellbeing has become a far more prominent topic of conversation in recent years. Both at work and socially, it is now much more common for people to discuss their mental and physical health, with many seeking ways to improve or prioritise their wellbeing.

But what is the relationship between people’s wellbeing and their place of work? infinitSpace's exclusive new research has delved deeper into this important question.

We commissioned an independent survey of 2,000 UK adults, uncovering the impact of remote and hybrid working on employees’ wellbeing, and examining how the quality of a workspace can affect their productivity and happiness. 

The findings provide valuable insight for landlords and office managers who are looking to create a modern workspace fit for businesses that are actively exploring locations that will actively boost the wellbeing and productivity of their teams. 

The link between working patterns and wellbeing

Firstly, let’s examine the correlation between how often people go into the workspace and how they feel it contributes to their wellbeing, both mental and physical.

The survey found that people who visit the office more regularly have better wellbeing. For instance, those who attend their workplace three or four days a week report the highest proportion of respondents who rated their physical (60%) and mental (61%) wellbeing as being ‘great’ or ‘good’. By contrast, among those who typically go to their one or two days a week, the numbers drop to 50% for both physical and mental wellbeing. 

Clearly, everyone will have a different response going to their place of work. But the average above highlights that, for all its benefits, remote working – or predominantly remote working – does not necessarily lead to improved wellbeing. 

For office landlords, the results can provide valuable insights and clearly show that a flexible workspace that accommodates the hybrid working pattern favoured by employees can also provide wellbeing benefits that make the space more desirable. 

Clearly, this is an important factor fuelling the growing demand for flexible workspaces. At infinitSpace, we help landlords across the globe transform their existing office spaces into exceptional flexible workspaces tailored to both hybrid working patterns and businesses that attend their workplace five days a week, offering spaces and services that enhance both productivity and wellbeing. 

The benefits of going into the workplace

There is, of course, another important piece of the puzzle. Namely, the type and quality of the workplace that employees have access to. Indeed, our survey uncovered some interesting results in this regard:

So, the data tells us that employees’ well-being can not only be significantly impacted by attending the office more regularly, but also by attending a workspace that has the right layout, facilities, support services and atmosphere.

Flexible workspaces – good ones, at least – are usually built around social interaction, being part of a community, and thoughtfully curated spaces. They are also more likely to have added perks, such as barista coffees, events and wellbeing rooms. 

At infinitSpace, these are the exact types of facilities and benefits we prioritise in our flexible workspaces, and with nine incredible locations worldwide, we have a deep understanding of what matters most to businesses and their employees. This is why so many landlords connect with us when exploring the best ways of creating a flexible workspace within their portfolios. 

Beating loneliness, boosting productivity

So, our research highlights how employees who work in flexible workspaces report better physical and mental wellbeing than those in traditional private offices. Delving deeper into this trend, the survey also explored what it is about going into our place of work that can affect how we feel and how we work. 

For example, 50% agreed of employees said that going in their workplace is a good way of combatting feels of loneliness or isolation, with just 23% disagreeing with this sentiment. 

Another notable finding was that having access to a dedicated, well-equipped workspace boosts productivity. In fact, among hybrid workers, 60% of employees say they are more productive on the days when they go into their workplace. And the figure is even higher (63%) among those based in a flexible workspace.

It’s another example of how landlords can benefit from choosing flexible workspaces in their buildings, taking advantage of the fact that they can be curated in such a way that caters for businesses who are searching for a space that facilitates wellbeing as part of their strategy.

But transforming traditional office space into flexible workspace that will appeal to the businesses of today might seem a daunting task to landlords - that is where infinitSpace comes in. We take the pain out of the process, enabling landlords to modernise their buildings and portfolios in line with market demands by creating and operating premium flexible workspaces that go above and beyond to cater to everything a member needs. 

Many employees looking for more from their employers

Interestingly, as the focus on people’s physical and mental wellbeing increases, our research found that many employees believe their employers could do more to help in this area. 

In fact, when asked, 39% of UK employees said that their employers talk about prioritising wellbeing but fail to deliver meaningful support, while over two fifths (44%) think their employer puts performance ahead of health and wellbeing. Further, only 51% of employees said their business offers helpful resources or initiatives to improve their wellbeing.

Tellingly, this is having an effect on businesses’ ability to retain talent, with 26% of employees considering leaving their role to find a new employer that offers better wellbeing support.

Again, the debate extends to businesses’ workspaces. For instance, less than half (48%) of employees in the UK are satisfied with the wellbeing facilities on offer in their workplace, demonstrating what an important element the right workspace can have in keeping employees satisfied and productive. 

This is where landlords can step in and use flexible workspaces to attract businesses. Flexible workspaces can be created in an agile way, allowing an operator like infinitSpace to build wellbeing facilities into their spaces, meaning any business looking to give more support to their employees need look no further than flex options. This is a win-win for both the landlord - ensuring they have workspaces in their buildings that will be in demand - and for businesses, who can deliver better wellbeing support to employees by virtue of being located in a high-quality flexible workspace. 

Key lessons to take away

Here are the key lessons that shine through from our exclusive new research:

1. Hybrid working patterns enhance both mental and physical wellbeing.
2. Flexible workspaces outperform traditional offices in boosting employee satisfaction and productivity.
3. Businesses and landlords who prioritise wellbeing through smarter workspace choices will thrive in a competitive market.

By investing in flexible workspaces, both businesses and landlords demonstrate their commitment to aligning with the needs of forward-thinking professionals. After all, wellbeing and success flourish best in workplaces that are truly designed to work your way.

Explore how infinitSpace can help you create smarter, wellbeing-focused workspaces. 

Contact us today to learn more!