Achieving Quality of Life at Work : Transforming Spaces to Improve Well-Being

This book provides an understanding and imaging of how a stress-free workplace might be designed and implemented in the context of the ‘new normal.’ Statistics show that more and more people are experiencing an increase in work-related stress, and its impact on individual psychology and well-being as well as organizational performance can be devastating. Globally, the most recent data on work-related illnesses account for 2.4 million deaths. Against this backdrop, and taking stock of how the pandemic is affecting the workplace and employee well-being, this book proposes transformations in work spaces, from implementing effective “greening” features, to more efficient technology-supported spaces. It establishes links between workplace design and creativity, happiness and productivity, confronting related issues such as generation gaps, digital interruptions, collaborative work environments and sustainability, and their respective connections with workspace environment and well-being. The book situates this discussion within a broader discussion on work and quality of life. Furthermore, the book demonstrates how several sustainable development goals might be achieved through transformed work spaces. Through an intersection between organizational psychology, well-being and quality of life studies, sociology, human resources, and ergonomics, this book is a timely examination of work-related stress in relation to work spaces that require rethinking and transformation in the throes, and wake, of the pandemic. Preface 5 Contents 7 About the Authors 11 1 Creative, Happy, and Productive Workforce: How the Workplace Environment is Changing 13 Introduction 13 Evolution of Job Design, Workplace Environment and Work Psychology 14 Changes in the Workplace and How People Work Today 17 Workplace Environment, Happiness, Stress, Productivity, and Creativity 20 Happiness and Stress at Work 20 Happiness and Productivity 22 Happiness and Creativity 22 What Makes People Stress in today’s Work Environment? 24 What Makes People Happy in today’s Work Environment? 27 Summary 28 2 Generations, Job and Workspace Design 30 Introduction 30 Generations at Workplace 31 Defining Generations 31 Baby Boomers 32 Generation X 33 Millennials 34 Generation Z 36 How Are These Generational Characteristics Translate into Job and Workspace Designs? 37 Collaborative and Open Space vs. Private/Cellular Office 38 Work-Life Balance 39 “Green” and Nature-Based Features 41 Technology-Supported Workspace 42 Summary 43 3 The 4th Industrial Revolution and Digital Workplace Design: Unlocking the Potentials 45 Introduction 45 Digital Workplace: Concepts and Its Evolution 46 Why Do Organizations Embrace on Digital Workplace? 49 The Workforce Demographic is Changing 49 Information Overload 49 The Rise of Knowledge Workers 50 Uncertainties in Today’s Environment 51 Digital Workplace: An Area of Conflict 51 Employment Opportunities 51 Work-Life Balance and Happiness 53 Techno-Stress 54 Ergonomics 55 What Are the Important Elements for Successful Digital Workplace Design? 56 People 56 Technology 57 Process 58 Summary 59 4 Remote Working: New Spaces and New Work Design 61 Introduction 61 Concepts of Remote Working 62 Status of Remote Working 64 What Contributes to the Rise of Remote Workspace? 65 Changing Workforce Populations 65 Rapid Development of Technology 66 Uncertainties Created by Covid-19 66 Rising Real-Estate Prices 67 Heightened Environmental Concern 68 Happy, Engaged, and More Productive Employees 68 Bigger Talent Pool 69 Remote Work Challenges 69 Workspace and Job Design Consideration for Effective Remote Working 72 Creating a Conducive Physical Workspace 72 Communication and Collaboration Tools 73 Support from Managers and Employers 74 Self-Discipline 75 Summary 75 5 Ergonomics, Safety and Physical Work Environment in Sustainable-Oriented Workplace Design 78 Introduction 78 Sustainable Development Goals 79 Origins 79 The Three Pillars of Sustainability 80 How the Three Sustainability Pillars Are Incorporated in Workplace Design 82 The Ambient Environment for Physical Comfort- Air, Lighting, and Temperature 83 Nature View—Plants and Landscape 86 Ergonomics and Work Practice 87 Privacy, Social Interaction, and Noise 90 Additional Facilities 91 Control Over the Physical Environment 93 Safety Workplace Design During Covid-19 Pandemic 94 Summary 95 6 Welcoming Disabled Employees Through Accommodating Workspace and Work Design 97 Introduction 97 Why Should Employers Employ Disabled People? 98 Status of Employment of Disabled People 100 Challenges Faced by Employees with Disabilities 101 Access to Transportation and Roads 101 Access to Buildings 102 How Can Employers Improve the Accessibility? 106 Different Disabilities, Different Needs 106 Flexibility Through Remote Working 109 Dilemma of Employers and Disabled Employees 110 Summary 111 7 Open-Space Workplace Design: Balancing Creativity, Teamwork, Privacy, and Social Distance 114 Introduction 114 Evolution of Office-Space Design: How Do We Get to Open-Plan in Today’s Environment? 115 Open-Plan Office Layout: Breaking the Wall 117 Team-based Open Layout 118 Co-Working Open-Plan Layout 118 Hot-Desks, Flexi-Desking 119 Low or Half Partitioned Office Layout 120 Fully Open Office Layout 120 The Important Characteristics of the Various Types of Open-Plan Layout and Its Impact on Productivity and Health 120 Proximity 120 Privacy 121 Workspace Assignment 123 Crowding 125 Open-Plan Office Layout: Does It Matters for Creativity and Teamwork? 125 Masking the Negativity of Open-Plan Layout 127 Summary 129 8 Conclusion and Way Forward 130 Quality of Work Life, the Healthy Workplace 130 From Efficient to Engaging Workplace Design 131 Summary 136 References 138 Index 143