Top Office Design Priorities Employees Care About (2025 Guide)

 

 

 

 

Today’s employees expect far more than just a desk and chair when they arrive at work. Hybrid work has changed how people view their workplace. From recent projects, we’ve seen that successful companies ask staff what they need day to day. Companies recognise that office design and build projects must directly reflect employee priorities if they want people to feel engaged and motivated to come in.

From our experience, the best-designed workspaces improve productivity, support wellbeing, and help companies keep talent. This guide explores the top office design priorities employees care about today and how businesses can respond, drawing on insights from real challenges clients face.

What Do Employees Want Most From Office Design?

Employees want office design and build projects that balance wellbeing, flexibility, collaboration, and purpose. Recent research shows that 78% of employees say access to natural light improves wellbeing, and 70% say it improves performance—one reason daylight and comfort consistently top workplace wish-lists. In practice, we often hear staff ask for:

  • Natural light
  • Ergonomic furniture
  • Quiet zones
  • Social spaces that encourage connection

A finance team, for instance, may need quiet pods for focused work, while marketing teams often prefer more open collaboration areas. For businesses, this means creating a culture-first design that resonates with people and helps them feel part of something bigger. Bates Studio’s office design services capture these expectations right from the start.

How Does Office Design and Build Improve Productivity?

Good design cuts down on distractions and gives people the focus they need. Offices that include key features allow people to get more done in less time:

  • Acoustic zoning
  • Sound-absorbing materials
  • Ergonomic layouts
  • Well-planned meeting spaces

We often see offices struggle when noise levels aren’t managed. Staff complain of constant interruptions, and productivity suffers. In comparison, spaces with breakout zones and private pods let teams balance collaboration with concentration. Bates Studio’s expertise in design and build projects keeps productivity at the centre of every fit-out.

Globally, 61% of employees say they need the office to be most productive. Yet many lack the right mix of settings for different tasks. In the UK, the top reasons employees return to the office are to focus and to collaborate—both designable outcomes.

But productivity is only part of the picture. Culture also shapes how employees experience their workspace.

Ready to reimagine your workplace? Speak to Bates Studio today about an office design and build solution tailored to employee wellbeing and performance.
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How Does Office Design Reflect Company Culture?

Teams expect offices that reflect their company culture and values. From branded graphics and colours to spaces for informal team connection, design brings a culture to life.

Picture an office where meeting rooms and breakout areas reflect your company’s values. That authenticity drives engagement and loyalty. In one recent project, we introduced flexible collaboration areas alongside branded design elements, and the client reported stronger team morale within weeks. The Bates team embeds culture in every workspace design project.

Why Is Office Furniture Important for Employee Satisfaction?

Furniture directly affects how people feel in the office:

  • Comfortable, ergonomic chairs reduce strain
  • Flexible furniture allows teams to adapt spaces for different tasks
  • Breakout furniture supports informal collaboration
  • Personalised workstations give employees a sense of ownership

We’ve seen first-hand how ignoring furniture leads to problems: uncomfortable seating, for example, quickly creates frustration and disengagement. In comparison, well-chosen furniture improves both comfort and productivity. These choices shape how comfortable, healthy, and productive teams feel every day. Bates Studio provides tailored furniture and fit-out solutions that reflect how teams work.

How Can Offices Support Hybrid and Flexible Working?

Staff value flexibility built into office design and build projects. This can mean hot-desking options, quiet pods, hybrid-ready AV setups, or intuitive booking systems. Without these, offices risk becoming underused and irrelevant. Flexible layouts turn the office into a place people actually want to use—for focus or for teamwork. The design and build expertise at Bates Studio delivers adaptable layouts that are seamless and future-ready.

How Can Office Design Be Sustainable and Inclusive?

Modern workforces look for sustainability and inclusivity as essentials. They expect workplaces that incorporate low-VOC finishes, biophilic elements, recycled materials, accessibility features, and neurodiversity-friendly layouts. Research supports this priority: peer-reviewed studies of WELL-certified offices found around a 30% rise in overall workplace satisfaction, a 26% increase in reported wellbeing, and a 10-point gain in productivity scores. On projects where we’ve prioritised these features, clients often notice improved staff wellbeing and a stronger sense of pride in the workplace. When businesses design with sustainability and inclusivity in mind, staff notice, and so does the planet.

What Questions Should You Ask Before Starting an Office Design and Build Project?

Employees want employers to act with transparency during the process. To ensure priorities are met, businesses should ask their fit-out partner:

  • How do you involve staff in the design process?
  • How do you measure success after completion?
  • Can you align wellbeing goals with sustainability and budget?
  • How will the space adapt as the business grows?

These questions keep employee needs central from planning through to completion. A “no bull” partner stays upfront about what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid wasting budget on features staff will never use.

How Do You Measure If You’ve Met Employee Priorities?

Measurement matters. Businesses can track outcomes through:

  • Staff surveys
  • Utilisation data
  • Retention rates
  • Wellbeing metrics

In practice, we’ve seen clients run staff surveys within three months of moving into a new office. The results often highlight both successes and areas to tweak. Post-occupancy reviews provide a clear picture of whether the design performs as intended. Tracking how often quiet pods or breakout areas are used shows if the investment pays off. Teams notice when their feedback is taken seriously, which strengthens trust and engagement.

Use a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) to capture staff feedback and utilisation data—BCO guidance highlights POE as best practice for assessing whether a fit-out meets user needs.

Rethinking the Workplace: A Culture-First Future

Today’s employees expect workplaces that reflect culture, provide comfort, adapt to hybrid work, and support wellbeing. For businesses, investing in office design and build goes beyond ticking compliance boxes. It creates a space people want to return to.

If you’re planning an office design and build project, partner with Bates Studio to create a culture-first workspace your team will love.
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FAQs About Employee Office Priorities

What do employees value most in office design? Comfort, flexibility, and culture-led design rank at the top.
How can office design reduce absenteeism? Create healthy, ergonomic, and well-ventilated environments that support wellbeing.
Do sustainable offices really attract talent? Yes. Jobseekers increasingly choose employers who prioritise sustainability and inclusivity.
What’s the difference between employer goals and employee priorities? Employers often focus on cost and efficiency, while employees want wellbeing and flexibility. A strong design balances both.
What are the biggest mistakes businesses make in office design? Common pitfalls include spending on trendy features employees don’t use, neglecting acoustics, and failing to plan for hybrid work patterns.