Six in 10 Workers Would Quit Due to Poor Office Air Quality

According to a Honeywell survey, nearly three out of four office workers are concerned about their building's indoor air quality (IAQ).

The report "Workplace Air Quality: A Global Concern Emerges" summarises the results of Honeywell's second annual Healthy Buildings Survey, which polled 3,000 office workers in buildings with 500 or more employees in ASEAN, India, Germany, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

According to the research, employees in all regions are concerned about the impact of bad air quality on their health and want more information from their companies. 

Only nearly two-thirds (62%) of those polled receive IAQ updates only sometimes – or never, and only 15% receive real-time updates. More than half of employees (62%) say they're willing to quit if their employer doesn't take steps to improve the indoor environment.

 

What employees think about indoor air quality

The paper compares office buildings, hospitals, airports, schools, and hotels in various markets and facility types. 

The vast majority of individuals polled (89%) believe that the quality of the air they breathe directly impacts their health and well-being. Almost everyone (98%) believes that safe IAQ has at least one health benefit: 

• Better overall physical health (62%); 

• Fewer allergies, 

• Less sneezing and coughing (60%); 

• Less exposure to airborne contaminants (57%); 

• Better overall mental health (53%); and 

• Improved productivity and problem-solving (43%).

Despite this, few respondents in any of the markets receive regular information on the air quality of their building. Only 13% of non-C-level employees are actively informed, compared to nearly a third (29%) of C-level executives who receive frequent updates. 

Almost two-thirds of lower-level workers (64%) receive updates only occasionally, never, or only occasionally at best. Nearly all of the workers (90%) polled believe that knowing about the air quality in their building is at least somewhat significant, including 65% who think it is very important.

About two-fifths of those polled (41%) can correctly identify all of the components that influence indoor air quality. More than a third (36%) don't know that CO2 levels play a role in IAQ, and 41% are unaware that humidity plays a role.

72% of surveyed office workers are worried about their offices' IAQ.

The report shows that employees are aware of the importance of indoor air quality

"These findings suggest that workers in every region are aware that indoor air quality can affect their well-being and expect employers to take action – both to improve IAQ and keep them better informed," said Doug Wright, president and CEO, Honeywell Building Technologies. 

"In a competitive labour market, demonstrating an effort to create a healthier work environment can be an advantage in attracting and retaining employees. Every dollar invested in upgrading workplace air quality, monitoring IAQ data and communicating it to employees is a dollar strategically spent."

 

Methodology

Between December 17, 2021, and January 11, 2022, Wakefield Research conducted the Honeywell Survey among 3,000 office workers in buildings with 500 or more employees in six markets – ASEAN, Germany, India, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States – using an email invitation and an online form.

 

Please click here to view the full report.

 

Source: Honeywell