Office design and health: a systematic review
Ann Richardson, John Potter, Margaret Paterson, Thomas Harding, Gaye Tyler-Merrick, Ray Kirk, Kate Reid, Jane McChesney
We undertook a review of recent research into the effects of workplace design, comparing individual with shared workspaces, on the health of employees. Our review found that, compared with individual offices, shared or open-plan office space is not beneficial to employees health, with consistent findings of deleterious effects on staff health, wellbeing and productivity. The findings of our review are consistent with those of earlier reviews. These findings have public health implications for the New Zealand workforce. Decisions about workplace design should include weighing the short-term financial benefits of open-plan or shared workspaces against the significant harms, including increased sickness absence, lower job satisfaction and productivity, and possible threats to recruitment and retention of staff.
