Satisfaction

This chapter presents some findings from surveys on employee satisfaction in different work environments in the Netherlands and various other European countries. It first discusses why employee satisfaction is relevant for organisations and which factors may influence employee satisfaction. Then the chapter discusses empirical data about employee satisfaction with various building characteristics, facilities and services, and which items are perceived as most important. Based on these analyses typical interventions are presented with related benefits and costs. Furthermore, the chapter discusses how to measure employee satisfaction and suggests a list of eleven topics that should be included in employee surveys to measure employee satisfaction: opportunities to communicate and to concentrate, meeting rooms, seclusion rooms, personal storage facilities, indoor climate, noise levels, chairs, desks and other office equipment, office leisure (e.g. tea/coffee, washroom/shower, restaurant/canteen), general cleanliness and IT services. The chapter ends with a number of questions for future research.