What is ‘The Workplace Oooh!’?

Employees want more than just great facilities; they want to feel valued, engaged, and socially connected with their peers and colleagues. In fact, we found following our independently commissioned research that 84% of today’s employees expect the office to deliver an experience.

But here’s the question: How can business leaders, HR directors, and facilities professionals make workplaces relevant and compelling? And how can they curate the best “feel good” experiences when they’re not sure what employees want, need, or expect? Sure, great technology and good coffee might be on the list, but in 2023, the most pressing needs are related to how employees feel.

Think about it: Happy. Sad. Productive. Frustrated. Joyful. Drained. Stressed. Creative. Curious. These are the emotions that employees experience daily. An effective workplace design goes beyond space and facilities; it also considers the intangible factors that contribute to employees’ feelings. It’s about creating an environment where employees feel proud, motivated, and inspired to be their authentic selves. It’s about creating “The Workplace Oooh!”—that audible and even visceral feeling we get when we’re somewhere we love.

At Claremont we’re dedicated to creating Destination Offices that transform how people think, feel and act. However;  we noticed we found ourselves speaking more about the way our spaces can change how people think and act in comparison to feel. This is why we created ‘The Workplace Oooh!’ a dedicated report to the feelings and experiances colleagues are looking for. After all, people are the heart of a business so, it’s vital we all understand how we can support and make colleagues feel their best when they come into the workplace.

So, how do today’s employees feel about the office? Does it truly meet their needs and make them feel positive and productive? What prevents them from fully embracing the workplace? And most importantly, how can you turn an average day in the office into a brilliant one?

We’ve all experienced that sense of wonder and delight—those moments when we can’t help but go “oooh” or “ahhh” in response to something amazing. That’s the kind of response we want our workplaces to evoke. When employees walk in and their eyes widen, they’re eager to return and genuinely happy to work there. It’s like receiving a stamp of approval, an instinctive and audible response to loving what they see. That’s why “The Workplace Oooh!” is the perfect term to capture those feelings.

So, does your business have ‘The Workplace Oooh!’? Because when you hear it, you’ll know you’re giving your people the feelings that truly matter. It’s time to create an environment that sparks joy, fosters connection, and brings out the best in your employees.