Office Design and Dignity at Work in the Knowledge Economy

Abstract

The current chapter looks at a grossly overlooked aspect affecting employee dignity in the workplace -- the physical environment. Office buildings represent the second largest financial overhead and they play a critical role in the organization of the processes and the power structure of any organization. Dignity is deconstructed into matters of identity, autonomy, dependency, seriousness, and trust which are linked to the studied effects of the office environment on employees - (i) the office structure and layout, (ii) the office décor and design, and (iii) ergonomic aspects. Their effects are expressed at multiple levels and encompass broad outcomes ranging from individual physical and psychological wellbeing to job satisfaction to team cohesion and organizational performance. Employees are almost never consulted on their preferences for elements of the office design and that there is no recognition for the need for different solutions for different types of employees and contexts. This state of affairs brings the question of employee dignity into the picture.