Satisfaction in the workspace linked to increased productivity, survey of 6,000 employees finds

LEADING office solution supplier, Fellowes Brands, has announced the results of its survey of over 6,000 employees across Europe, 1,000 of which are from the UK, revealing 91% of all European employees and 89% of UK employees say satisfaction is important to them in their workspace, regardless of whether working location is at the corporate office or the home office. Moreover, 88% of UK employees say satisfaction improves their productivity by more than 25%.

By helping to uncover attitudes of European and British employees towards workspace satisfaction and productivity, the survey findings help inform employers how best to navigate the new 'hybrid' model of working, where a portion of time is spent working within the corporate office, and a portion working from a home office.

The survey results highlight the importance of workspace satisfaction and are supported by additional social media sentiment analysis conducted by Fellowes Brands, which found that there were 1.9 million mentions of workspace satisfaction in the past 12 months, up from 1.5 million mentions in the previous 12 month period.

Following a period where many Britons spent a year working almost exclusively from home, Fellowes Brands' survey reveals that 36% of UK employees who work from home say they feel more productive in the office, and 29% say they feel more productive when working in the new 'hybrid' working environment.

In addition to uncovering British attitudes about the modern workspace, the survey also revealed interesting commonalities between employees across Europe; in:- France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain, as well as the UK. In comparing results from all of the European countries, the data painted a picture of 4 'core elements' that make up workspace satisfaction.

As identified by the Fellowes Brands survey results, the 4 Core Elements of Workspace Satisfaction are:-

1. Clean Environment.

2. Healthy Workspace.

3. Secure Environment.

4. Tidiness AND Organisation.

Here's what European and UK employees have to say about each of the 4 core elements:-

1. Clean Environment...

► 77% of UK employees say it is important for an employer to invest in clean, healthy air (eg, using air purifiers) to facilitate productivity in their workspace.

► 54% of all European employees surveyed said that a well-ventilated space is the top 'smell' that gives them satisfaction in their workspace.

► 33% of UK employees say they find breathing cleaner, healthier air satisfying at work.

2. Healthy Workspace...

● 83% of all European employees (and 81% of UK employees) say having a good ergonomic environment, including:- a suitable desk, chair, and monitor at eye level is important to their productivity.

● 80% of UK employees say it is important to their productivity that their employer invests in ergonomics.

3. Secure Environment...

► 66% of all European employees agree that being able to dispose of confidential or sensitive documents securely gives them satisfaction.

► 74% of UK employees say it is important that an employer invests in equipment to shred sensitive documents.

4. Tidiness AND Organisation...

► 81% of UK employees say having a clean, healthy workspace is important to their productivity.

► 77% of UK employees say it is important that an employer invests in effective storage and organisation solutions they need to be productive at the office.

► 79% of UK employees say having access to the equipment they need, such as an extra monitor to view large documents, is important to their productivity.

► 73% of UK employees and 69% of all European employees say it is important that an employer invests in equipment to produce high quality presentations and documents, including laminators and binders, they need to be productive at the office.

A theme running throughout the 4 core elements also points to the need for employers ensuring the correct equipment in the hybrid workspace:-

► 50% of all European employees said that it positively impacts their productivity when satisfied with their working set up.

► 83% of all European employees say that having an excellent ergonomic environment, including:- a suitable desk, chair, monitor at eye level, is essential to their productivity.

► 36% of all European employees prefer to have a hybrid working option; versus 24% who prefer to work solely from home.

Productivity expert Martin Geiger, who has authored Fellowes Brands' whitepaper on the results of the survey, supports the findings through his own work, commenting:- "The future of work is hybrid. No longer is working solely relegated to the company office; the modern workspace now involves employees splitting a portion of their time working from within the corporate office, and a portion working from the home office. Throughout my career working with some of the world's biggest companies, 1 thing I've come to notice is that the most productive people all seem to have 1 commonality: satisfaction. To successfully transition to this exciting hybrid working future, employers must implement practical strategies that allow their employees to be satisfied with the setup within the corporate office, as well as within their home working environment. Employees who are well equipped and thus satisfied with their working conditions in both locations will lead to outcomes of higher productivity."

In concert with the findings linking employee satisfaction with increased productivity, Fellowes Brands offers solutions designed to aid employers in optimising their hybrid strategy, while satisfying employees in their hybrid workspaces.

Fellowes Brands UK Marketing Manager, Jeremy Cooper, comments:- "The modern workspace is rapidly evolving, and with that comes a change in the tools that employees need to be successful and productive in their work. As employers begin to design new hybrid ways of working, ensuring that employers outfit their employees for both corporate and home office working will be key. Employers must ensure that their employees' workstations are optimised for each of the 4 Core Elements of Workspace Satisfaction. Doing so will keep employees safe, satisfied, and productive. At Fellowes Brands, we understand that hybrid working is the future and have built our hybrid workspace tools to meet the demands of this future, ensuring productivity for the long term."

The full survey results and their analysis can be found in Fellowes Brands' new whitepaper, entitled:- 'The Importance of Workspace Satisfaction,' authored by productivity expert, Martin Geiger, which can be downloaded at:- Fellowes.Com.

Judy and Liza Musical Continues Its Spellbinding Tour This Autumn

A dazzling and heartwarming stage show charting the careers and relationship between Hollywood mother and daughter Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli continues its UK tour into Autumn at venues across the country.

Captivating audiences for a decade, Judy and Liza will embark on a national tour throughout September and October 2021, to mark the show's landmark 10th Anniversary visiting:- Lichfield, Radlett, St Helens, London, Chelmsford, Warrington, Halifax, Leamington Spa and Crewe.

The show is thought to have been one of the 1st shows to tour the UK post lockdown, coinciding with the Government's roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The Judy and Liza UK Tour is Friday 24 September 2021, at Lichfield Garrick Theatre, before moving to:-

► The Radlett Centre, on Saturday, 25 September 2021.

► St Helens Theatre Royal, on Wednesday, 13 October 2021.

► Above The Stag Theatre, in London, on Sunday, 17 October 2021.

► Chelmsford Theatres, on Monday, 18 October 2021.

► Pyramid and Parr Hall, in Warrington, on Wednesday, 20 October 2021.

► Square Chapel Arts Centre, in Halifax, on Saturday, 23 October 2021.

► Royal Spa Centre and Town Hall, in Leamington Spa, on Wednesday, 27 October 2021.

► Crewe Lyceum Theatre, on Friday, 29 October 2021.

Judy and Liza is produced by Bill Elms Productions and On Song Productions; created and written by West End Performer Emma Dears, who appears as Liza Minnelli; with Francis Goodhand, as Musical Director.

Emma performs alongside Helen Sheals, who plays Judy Garland. Together they belt out timeless classics with uncanny resemblance of Judy and Liza, bursting with their unrivalled and elusive star quality.

The incredible talents of 2 of the biggest names in Hollywood showbusiness; mother and daughter Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli; are reunited thanks to this sensational musical experience. This dazzling production tells the turbulent tale of the stars against the backdrop of their infamous 1964 London Palladium concert. Audiences are taken on an emotional rollercoaster journey as they discover the uncanny parallels between some of Judy and Liza's most iconic songs and their own personal lives.

The show features performances of iconic songs including:- Cabaret, Maybe This Time, Over The Rainbow, The Man That Got Away, The Trolley Song, and Together Wherever We Go.

Liverpool born Actress Emma Dears self penned the musical biopic to critical acclaim. Emma's acting career began at the age of 9 when she toured the UK in the title role of Annie. She later headed to London to join the Italia Conti Academy for Performing Arts, however she left before completing the course as she was offered a part in the tour of Les Miserables performing in Dublin and Edinburgh. Emma's West End roles have included:- Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Oliver. Television roles include:- Emmerdale, Nice Guy Eddie, Shameless, Hollyoaks, Brookside, and Second Coming.

Helen is widely known for her roles in Coronation Street and Downton Abbey. However, Helen is no stranger to portraying Judy Garland having previously played the title role in the West End musical Judy! at The Arts Theatre in London. Her extensive theatre roles have included:- Mistress Quickly in Merry Wives and Goneril in King Lear for Northern Broadsides, Directed by Sir Jonathan Miller; Mari Hoff in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Hull Truck and UK Tour); and Shirley Valentine. Helen's TV credits include:- Brookside, Meterosexuality, Family Affairs, Last Tango in Halifax, Silent Witness, Holby City, Casualty, Doctors, Dalziel and Pascoe, and Mrs Wigan in 3 seasons of Downton Abbey.

Producer Bill Elms commented:- "We are thrilled to announce another leg of the 10th Anniversary UK tour of Judy and Liza, it's a show very close to my heart as I worked on the very 1st run. It is going to be very special tour, for many people, this will be their 1st show of the year, coming out of lockdown. We can promise audiences a safe and very memorable experience as they rediscover the joy of live entertainment through this captivating show."

Writer and actress Emma Dears added:- "It is with pure excitement that we can take Judy and Liza's emotional and iconic story on the road. As performers, we crave being in front of a live audience; seeing, hearing and feeling their reactions, it gets no better than that. Whether you're a fan of Judy or Liza, or both, their story is unique. The show is full of love, heartache, and passion, and Helen and I have worked tirelessly to make sure we get every tiny detail just right. Join us for an evening with the mother and daughter who really did put the 'show' into showbiz."

To find out more visit:- JudyAndLiza.Co.UK.