Marvin OnumonuBad workplaces cost the UK economy £71.4bn in lost gross domestic product (GDP) each year, research from Mitie found.
Workers lost 68 minutes a week on unproductive tasks, rising to 74 minutes for full-time staff.
Problems included searching for meeting rooms with good Wi-Fi, slow lifts, and not enough collaborative spaces.
This equated to a weekly salary cost of £485.2m for employers.
Productivity in Britain stayed low, with output per hour worked 0.2% lower year-on-year in Q1 2025.
OECD data put the UK fourth out of the G7 on GDP per hour worked, behind the US, Germany and France.
Most respondents said the physical workplace had a strong impact on how they felt about their employer.
89% of those satisfied with their workplace were also satisfied with their employer, while only 23% of those dissatisfied with their workplace said the same.
More than half (51%) said a poorly maintained workplace was a main reason for job dissatisfaction.
88% said a safe working environment contributed to their satisfaction, while 83% wanted access to the right technology and tools.
75% said a comfortable and well-designed office mattered.
Socialising was less important, with only 29% saying gyms and breakout areas added to their satisfaction and 55% saying opportunities to socialise would encourage them to go to the office.
Mark Caskey, managing director, projects at Mitie, said: “Employers have a real opportunity to improve workspaces so they increase employee engagement, actively fuel productivity and drive innovation in a way that benefits the multi-generational workforce.
“Currently, across the UK, there are a number of friction points within office environments that adversely impact employee satisfaction which directly impacts productivity.
“But all is not lost, some are within the employer’s control, for example, ensuring that the right spaces for the right tasks are readily available, from collaborative through to quiet spaces, and that any tech is in full working order.”
Caskey added: “When workplaces are designed with people in mind and managed effectively, they become powerful enablers of collaboration and transformation, high in both productivity and satisfaction.
“People want to spend more time in them. People thrive, and communities benefit leading to a workforce that ultimately helps the economy gain critical momentum.”
