Dive Brief:

• Discrepancies between what employees want and what employers do plague remote-work options, office design trends and wellness initiatives, according to the 2019 Staples Workplace Survey. For example, slightly more than half of respondents said an open office layout causes distractions, with 40% saying their office space is too open.
• Most employees (90%) think more flexible work options and schedules will raise morale, but only 34% said their employers have work-from-home policies, revealed the poll of 1,001 U.S. and Canadian office workers conducted by KRC Research. The report concluded respondents want more choices while balancing their work and personal lives; 67% would consider quitting their jobs if their company became less flexible. 
• Employees said they want to prioritize their health; 41% said they would take a 10% pay cut to work for an employer that cares more about their wellness. Generally, respondents gave employers a "C" when asked to grade their organizations commitment to health. Less than half of respondents' organizations offer a wellness program, and just 22% said their offices have a dedicated wellness room.

Dive Insight:

The Staples poll affirmed what previous studies and surveys found: more flexibility is in such high demand among workers that employers who don't offer some form of flex scheduling, work-from-home options or remote work arrangements are likely have a harder time attracting, engaging and retaining talent.

Open office design is a trend that's meant to foster collaboration in the workplace. But employers must keep in mind that open workspaces can produce distractions for workers, according to various studies. Apple discovered some of its workers deeply opposed open work spaces after it opened a new facility in 2017. Workers threatened to quit, saying that they needed quiet, more private office areas to carry out creative work.

In terms of wellness initiatives, other research has confirmed that employers may be offering programs employees don't want. For example, employers want to focus on budgeting and short-term goals in financial wellness training, one report found, but employees want to learn more about long-term strategies to improve their financial health.