People centered workplaces: Fostering wellbeing and engagement

Jasmina Al Arefova

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The office as we know it has shifted post-covid, causing the need for organizations to reinvent the workplace, as employees started to prioritize their health. The purpose of the research is to understand the post-covid development of the workplace and what aspects contribute to a workplace that fosters an environment of wellbeing and engagement. Initial literature review laid the foundation for the qualitative research. The research was conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews with 12 experts from the UK, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in the field of workplace. The results explained the development of workplace strategies post-covid and the increasing significance of creating an environment that cultivates wellbeing and engagement in the workplace. Aspects such as the physical space, organizational environment, and employee expectations are being redefined as together they impact the workplace environment, and higher emphasis is placed on wellbeing in all layers of organizations. In conclusion, organizations must embed wellbeing initiatives in the everyday environment, prioritize employees’ needs, create a variety of work settings, hold leaders responsible and support them in promoting wellbeing initiatives in the workplace, which ultimately create a universal design that supports employees’ wellbeing, helps them stay engaged, leading to happier and better performing employees.

Abstract:

The office as we know it has shifted post-covid, causing the need for organizations to reinvent the workplace, as employees started to prioritize their health. The purpose of the research is to understand the post-covid development of the workplace and what aspects contribute to a workplace that fosters an environment of wellbeing and engagement. Initial literature review laid the foundation for the qualitative research. The research was conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews with 12 experts from the UK, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in the field of workplace. The results explained the development of workplace strategies post-covid and the increasing significance of creating an environment that cultivates wellbeing and engagement in the workplace. Aspects such as the physical space, organizational environment, and employee expectations are being redefined as together they impact the workplace environment, and higher emphasis is placed on wellbeing in all layers of organizations. In conclusion, organizations must embed wellbeing initiatives in the everyday environment, prioritize employees’ needs, create a variety of work settings, hold leaders responsible and support them in promoting wellbeing initiatives in the workplace, which ultimately create a universal design that supports employees’ wellbeing, helps them stay engaged, leading to happier and better performing employees.

Keywords

workplace, wellbeing, engagement, people-centered, Post-covid office

Keywords

Post-covid office, workplace, wellbeing, engagement, people-centered

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 5. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 7. 6. 2023
• Supervisor: Marko Orel
• Reader: Michal Hron

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme:
Management