Quality of the working environment: definition and stakes

Fundamental elements of the quality of the working environment

The Quality of the Working Environment is « the ability of a space to deliver positive results in terms of the well-being of its users, the environment and the performance of the activity it hosts. »
The Quality of the Working Environment is therefore a global concept that takes into account all the following aspects: environmental, psycho-social, physical and health, organizational and financial.

Quality of the working environment and environmental impact

The buildings and construction sector accounted for 36% of final energy use and 39% of energy and process-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2018 responsible for the acceleration of climate change. Companies and local authorities therefore have an important role to play in the low-carbon strategy. Moreover, environmental awareness has never been so important, and the Quality of the Working Environment is closely linked to its impact on our natural resources and climate change.

Assessing the Quality of the Working Environment includes, for example :

Estimating the carbon footprint of the working environment
Assessment of the energy performance of the working environment
Raising employees' awareness of the environment, promoting eco-responsible behaviour in the working environment

This criterion of the quality of the working environment enables the company's strategy to be aligned with its environmental responsibilities.

Quality of the working environment and psycho-social well-being

The quality of the working environment helps to create positive working conditions in which individuals and organisations can thrive. Well-being is a key factor in the quality of the work environment that can foster employee engagement and organizational performance.

Measuring and monitoring employee well-being helps to identify problems in the work environment that require attention and to anticipate hazards. With the epidemic crisis and the growing importance of telework, loss of motivation and commitment are important risks that need to be monitored.

Quality of the working environment, health and safety

The working environment of individuals is a determining factor in their quality of working life and health. The work environment influences our cognitive and emotional states, our concentration, behaviour, actions and abilities. It plays an important role in employee commitment and performance. A poor quality working environment introduces risks that make the workplace dangerous and unsuitable for the company's activity.

Several factors come into play in assessing the quality of the physical working environment, including :
Office ergonomics, layout and decoration, cleanliness, equipment, space, temperature, lighting, ventilation, acoustics, humidity, air quality.

Quality of the working environment and business performance

A reflection of the quality of the working environment is the performance of the activity hosted by the workplace. How effective is the work environment in meeting the performance objectives? How can profitability be increased by improving the quality of the working environment: occupation, collaborative technologies, optimisation of IT equipment, services and amenities, etc.

GreenMe, specialist in the quality of the working environment, helps companies and local authorities in improving their work and living spaces by measuring and qualifying key performance indicators. Contact us for a complete study of your work environment.