Reuters.com (cached)
Extreme temperatures are the single biggest office complaint, followed by
messy restrooms, rodents and insects, tacky decor and foul smells. More than a
third find their offices ‘bland’ -
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ — Blumberg Capital Partners, the
U.S. investment firm and commercial real estate investment manager, today
released results of a national survey to gauge the impact of office building
conditions on worker attitudes, productivity and motivation. The poll was
conducted in December. Some of the top-line results:
— One in three workers surveyed said they have either accepted or left a
job due to “the condition of the building and/or the amenities
offered.”
— Nearly half said their office buildings and office environments are
either “bland” (36%), “dumpy” (7%) or “stodgy” (4%).
— The most-frequent complaint (47%): extreme office temperatures due to
poor heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems.
— About a quarter of the respondents said the cleanliness of their
buildings is either “marginal” or “appalling.”
— One in three workers said they’re concerned about getting sick or
injured from unhealthy or unsafe building conditions.
— Fully 80% of workers said the overall condition of their office
buildings affects how they perceive their employers.
— The vast majority (69%) confirmed that the condition of their office
buildings affects their own individual productivity and motivation.
“We’re entering a new era in commercial real estate, where premium
services and amenities and employee-friendly facilities will differentiate
office buildings and employers,” said Philip Blumberg, chairman and CEO of
Blumberg Capital Partners. “The survey results illustrate just how much of an
impact office environments and ergonomics have on attitudes and overall
employee productivity. The results also offer a unique glimpse into the
current state of U.S. office buildings and the mindset of today’s office
worker.”
Given the increasing value placed on office amenities, Blumberg Office
Properties, the real estate investment arm of Blumberg Capital Partners,
recently hired a luxury hotel executive to spearhead the rollout of five-star,
premium services to its properties. The program encompasses on-site concierge
support, event tickets, health clubs, conference facilities, advanced
technology and energy-efficient utilities.
According to the survey, the most-frequent complaint aired by workers (47%
of respondents) was extreme office temperatures due to poor heating,
air-conditioning and ventilation systems. In addition, unclean/under-stocked
restrooms (31%), outdated furniture and decor (28%), unexplained odors or
foul/unclean air (21%), rodents/insects (20%), theft/crime (21%), and leaky
ceilings and windows (21%) were common complaints.
The survey also examined office security issues. While 89% of respondents
believe their office buildings are safe in terms of their personal security,
some 34% of respondents raised concerns about the safety of their personal
belongings. In terms of security measures in demand by workers, 78% cited
security cameras. More than half cited “security guards on patrol” as another
effective tactic, while 28% want “metal detectors or other weapons-check
measures.”
When asked which of these measures were already in place at their
respective buildings, 54% cited security cameras, while 37% and 8% cited
security guards on patrol and metal detectors/weapons checks, respectively,
indicating a gap in actual and desired security measures.
When asked to rank office building amenities, workers cited “covered
parking” as the most important feature, followed closely by “subsidized
cafeteria or restaurant,” “fitness or workout center” and “on-site day care.”
The survey also examined the prevalence of office recycling and
environmental programs. The most frequently cited program was “office
paper/newspaper recycling,” cited by 63% of the respondents. More than half
also said their buildings offer can or bottle recycling. About a quarter of
the respondents said their buildings or employers offer no recycling or
environmental programs.
The survey was commissioned by Blumberg Capital Partners and conducted by
Fleishman-Hillard Research to gauge office workers’ attitudes and opinions
about various aspects of their office buildings. The findings are based on a
national online survey of 500 adults who spend the majority of their workday
in one office building. The poll was conducted from Dec. 14-17, 2007, using a
nationwide Internet panel. The sample comprised 209 males and 291 females.
Demographics were also collected for income level, job type, age, region,
education level and building type.
For complete survey results, visit here.
The Rollout of Premium Amenities in Office Buildings
Blumberg Office Properties’ ongoing office improvement program includes
building private “club-level” suites for tenant members, akin to “club-level”
suites commonly found in five-star hotels. At one of its properties in Tampa,
Fla., an on-site swimming pool is already available to office tenants.
Blumberg Office Properties in 2006 consolidated its national real estate
portfolio, selling its office towers in Coral Gables, Fla., and Miami.
Blumberg Capital Partners recently announced its intentions to start a media
and entertainment investment fund in 2008, to augment its commercial real
estate ventures.
Founded in 1979 by Philip Blumberg, Blumberg Capital Partners specializes
in U.S. commercial real estate, including acquisitions and divestments, market
research, due diligence, and the management and leasing of commercial
properties. Its investment portfolios have comprised some $500 million in
commercial real estate assets. Blumberg Office Properties is a member of the
National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries. For more information,
visit here.
