Employees’ Satisfaction With Indoor Environment Quality Associated With Primary And Alternative Workspaces In Office Environments

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to address employees’ satisfaction with indoor environment quality (IEQ) associated with alternative workspaces (AWSp) and primary workspaces (PWSp). Specific IEQ criteria of interest included acoustics, appearance (aesthetics), daylighting, electric lighting, function, furnishings, indoor air quality, thermal conditions, vibration and movement, and view. A post-occupancy evaluation (POE) was conducted with employees (faculty, staff and students) who had workspace in a facility designed and developed referencing sustainable design guidelines. Hanson Hall was selected for this study as it was developed referencing the B3 Guidelines (formerly known as the Minnesota Sustainability Guidelines or MSBG). Hanson Hall is a five-level, classroom and office building located on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus and includes approximately 25,400 square feet of space dedicated to primary workspaces (PWSp) and 23,900 square feet of space allocated to alternative workspaces (AWSp). The Sustainable Post-Occupancy Evaluation Survey (SPOES) was used for this study and modified to include questions for an Alternative Workspace Module. Affordance theory served as the theoretical framework for this research, and a model was developed to illustrate employees’ (observing/perceiving) satisfaction with the IEQ criteria in the designed environment, natural environment, and social environment. Employees responded to an online survey to rate their satisfaction with the overall facility (site, building and interior) [F (SBI)], their PWSp, and their AWSp. They also rated their satisfaction with IEQ criteria associated with their PWSp and self-identified AWSp. Satisfaction was rated on a 1-7 Likert-type scale, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. An IEQ satisfaction score was developed from the weighted means of the 11 IEQ criteria resulting in an overall composite IEQ score of 5.32 for the PWSp and 5.29 for the AWSp. The IEQ criterion affording the highest level of satisfaction with PWSp was function, and the lowest level of satisfaction was view. The IEQ criterion affording the highest level of satisfaction for the AWSp was function and the lowest level of satisfaction was view. ANOVA results of the overall satisfaction with the F (SBI), PWSp, and AWSp revealed statistically significant differences among the three IEQ scores. Previous research on employees’ satisfaction with IEQ criteria was associated only with the overall F (SBI) and the PWSp. This study addressed the increasing use of AWSp to accommodate employees’ work modes with the goal to develop a more comprehensive understanding of employees’ satisfaction with IEQ criteria across all workplace settings. This research served as a pilot study and is considered limited in scope and in sample size (N=26). However, much was learned about AWSp and the process used to evaluate employees’ satisfaction with their AWSp.