Home-grown dahlias protruding from a squat, glass vase sitting precariously on the corner of a desk. A photo tacked to a cubicle wall, showing off the tennis-playing daughter. A shiny trophy won at a company picnic, all but hidden among work materials.
They’re all homey, individual touches employees use to carve a personal niche out of an impersonal work world. And they might become history. The number of workers adding a personal touch or two has declined sharply—from 85 percent in 1996 to 59 percent in 2006—according to a survey of nearly 700 U.S. office workers.
The results are from the second of a three-part Workplace Index Survey on the Nature of Work in 2006 for Steelcase, a global manufacturer of office environments. Part I, released in July, looked at the growing trend of employees working while on vacation. Part III, to be released in September, will deal with ergonomics.
Fewer employees this time around blamed their employer for discouraging putting a personal stamp on their work space. Only 25 percent in 2006 said their company does not encourage personalized work areas, compared to 42 percent in 1996 who said this was not encouraged.
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