The Importance of Office Design in Retaining Talent
Just as your company’s values and culture shape the employee experience, the physical workplace plays a pivotal role. Employees need to feel valued and equipped to do their best work, and a thoughtfully designed space can communicate both.
According to a recent Leesman study, “pride” and “image” are two of the strongest predictors of an outstanding workplace experience. Yet only 51% of employees feel proud enough to bring guests into their office, and just 65% report that their environment truly supports their productivity. When pride and focus falter, so do engagement, satisfaction, and ultimately, retention.
“The office environment has to go beyond aesthetics. It needs to be functional, comfortable, and designed around the people who use it. We’ve learned that having a well-designed office is as crucial as having the right tools or technology to perform your job. It’s not just about a nice-looking office space, it’s about creating an environment where employees feel supported, engaged, and able to thrive.”
— Chris Alldred, Design Director
It’s easy to chase design trends, but the real challenge is understanding how your team works, what motivates them, and what conditions help them thrive. Whether it’s biophilic elements that boost well-being, adjustable lighting to reduce glare, or acoustic zoning to minimise distractions, every detail should flow from real user insights.
It’s Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution
Every organisation, and even each team within it, has unique needs. Research highlights that noise is a top pain point: among employees satisfied with noise levels, 82% say their environment supports productivity. That means before committing to a fully open plan, test solutions like quiet pods, bookable focus rooms, or sound-masking systems.
Likewise, a separate report on seating found that while 54% of workplaces have adopted unassigned desks, those offering a variety of settings, focus booths, collaboration benches, soft-seating lounges, achieve the highest experience scores. Variety, it turns out, is the secret ingredient: it satisfies solo tasks, teamwork and casual interaction alike.
By continuously surveying your people, prototyping changes, and measuring pride and productivity, you turn office design into a strategic retention lever. After all, your workplace isn’t just walls and furniture, it’s the stage on which your people perform at their best.