Office workspace for an ageing workforce: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Psychology
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• The aging workforce necessitates adaptive workplace strategies to maintain employee performance and health.
• Organizations can leverage the built environment to support diverse worker needs and promote wellbeing.

Approach:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline databases.
• The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology guided the study selection process.
• 13 studies were included after screening 290 initial records.

Key Points:

• Older workers prioritize personal control over their workspace, including environmental comfort and spatial autonomy.
• Negative perceptions exist regarding open-plan offices and hot-desking arrangements among older employees.
• Subjective data from interviews and questionnaires formed the primary basis of the included studies' findings.

Conclusions:

• This review offers an initial framework for optimizing office workspaces for older employees' wellbeing and productivity.
• Further evidence-based research incorporating both subjective and objective measures is required.
• Developing comprehensive guidelines for age-inclusive workspaces necessitates continued investigation.