Perspective of Office Workers on Impact of Standardized Workplace Design on Performance

Introduction: Workplace design significantly influences employees’ work performance and productivity. Standardized workplace design refers to consistent office layouts and equipment across an organization. This study examined the impact of standardized workplace design on performance among office workers compared to traditional workplace design and studied its strengths and limitations as there are currently limited studies on standardized workplace design and its impact on work performance. Methods: An explorative qualitative study involving 12 office workers of private organizations in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur and Selangor areas. Participants, selected through a sociodemographic and occupation characteristics survey questionnaire, joined semi-structured online interviews, where the interview questions explored the impact of workplace design on musculoskeletal discomfort, psychosocial and work performance, the strengths and limitations of workplace design, and satisfaction with current standardized workplace design. Result: The seven main themes identified from the semi-structured interviews were: (1) Impact on musculoskeletal discomfort, (2) Impact on mental health, (3) Impact on work performance, (4) Impact on work satisfaction and engagement, (5) Strengths of standardized workplace design, (6) Limitations of standardized workplace design and (7) Workplace satisfaction. Conclusion: The design of workplace environments plays a pivotal role in influencing both physical comfort and mental well-being. Addressing musculoskeletal discomfort through ergonomic solutions, while also considering psychosocial factors, is essential for fostering a healthy, productive workplace. Organizations must balance the strengths of standardized designs with the need for personalization and flexibility to create an environment that supports all employees effectively.