Office design can have a significant impact on staff productivity, according to a World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) report released this month.
Entitled Health, wellbeing and productivity in offices: The next chapter for green buildings, the report found a range of factors from air quality and lighting to interior layout can affect the health, satisfaction and job performance of workers.
The report, which is sponsored by Green Building Council of Australia members, JLL and Lend Lease, presents a simple toolkit that businesses can use to measure the health, wellbeing and productivity of their buildings to make more informed financial decisions.
GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew said there is almost 25 million square metres of office space across Australia and 23 per cent is now Green Star-rated.
“Operating from sustainable office space is increasingly recognised as a strategic business decision that is not only environmentally and economically-sound, but it can also enhance a company's biggest asset and expense – its people,” Madew said.
“This report will help Australian companies join the dots between workplace productivity and the workplace itself.”
Lend Lease group head of sustainability, Geoff Dutaillis, said buildings that 'work' create more profitable companies. He said the report underscores the role green buildings have in reducing absenteeism.
In Australia, the aggregate cost to business of ill-health and absenteeism is $7 billion per year.
World GBC CEO, Jane Henley, said the evidence linking good office design and improved health, wellbeing and staff productivity is now overwhelming. “There is unquestionably a clear business case for investing in, developing and occupying healthier, greener buildings.”
The report can be downloaded at www.worldgbc.org/activities/health-wellbeing-productivity-offices/