OFFICE CHARACTERISTICS AND PERCEIVED BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES IN A PUBLIC AGENCY An Empirical Study

Abstract

Office design is a frequently discussed but little understood topic in public management. This study examines the relationship between a set of office design characteristics (density, darkness, indoor environment, ergonomic design) and employees' perceived behavioral outcomes (turnover intention, perceived health problems, perceived work effectiveness). Data were drawn from 508 public employees in a state human services agency. The results found that office characteristics were negatively related to employees' turnover intention and perceived health problems, and positively related to perceived effectiveness at work, when controlling for satisfaction with pay and supervision and individual employee characteristics.