Mumbai, To retain employees and bring them back to the office, many companies are turning to 'Office Peacocking', which involves creating a sleek or stylish workspace and spending large amounts of their budget on attractive designs, say experts at the industry.
The concept of 'Office Peacocking' gained significant momentum in India post-Covid as companies sought to entice employees to return to the office following the pandemic-induced remote work shift to compete with the convenience of offices. at home, according to human resources services provider TeamLease. "Executive director of services and personnel, Kartik Narayan, said."
Peacocking involves redesigning office spaces with stylish décor, modern furniture, cozy nooks, natural light and well-stocked pantries to create a welcoming and vibrant work environment. The goal is to make the office more attractive and pleasant for employees, improving their willingness to return to in-person work.
"Companies are allocating a substantial portion of their budgets to office redesign. Although specific numbers vary, investments in office aesthetics are considered strategic measures to improve employee morale and productivity. For example, "Big tech companies could spend millions on these types of initiatives to ensure their offices are attractive to top talent," Narayan said.
The technology, finance and consulting sectors are particularly interested in office swagger, as these sectors face increased competition for talent and a greater need to entice employees to return to physical workspaces, he said.
When asked if this trend is a temporary phenomenon, Narayan said it is likely to grow as hybrid work models persist. "Companies see creating an engaging work environment as crucial to employee retention and satisfaction. As hybrid working remains popular, the need to offer a compelling reason for employees to return to the office will drive further investment in the office swagger," he added.
Echoing this view, HR director and CEO of staffing firm CIEL, Aditya Narayan Mishra, said that in the last 2-3 years, 'Office Peacock' has seen remarkable growth, with an estimated increase in 25 to 30 percent on investment in office aesthetics and interior design.
Major metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Hyderabad are leading the 'Office Peacock', as these cities are home to many multinational corporations and startups, which have been at the forefront of adopting such trends, Mishra said.
He said that "on average, companies allocate approximately 5 to 10 percent of their total office budget for 'Office Peacock.' However, this allocation can fluctuate significantly depending on the size of the company and the magnitude of the redesign".
The IT and technology sector, followed by the finance and consulting sectors, lean more towards the "Office Peacock", as these sectors often have the budget and need to create an attractive work environment to retain talent and impress customers, he noted.
Mishra said Office Peacock has shown a notable decrease of around 15 to 20 percent in turnover intentions compared to standard office environments.
"This shows that attractive office spaces have had a positive impact on reducing attrition rates. Employees tend to stay longer in companies that invest in creating pleasant and stimulating work environments," he added.
Titir Dey, global CEO of workplace design firm Space Matrix, said the term 'Office Peacocking' recently gained prominence as companies looked for ways to attract employees back to the office after the pandemic. , focusing heavily on aesthetic and technological improvements.
“By creating empathetic spaces that address both functional and emotional requirements, organizations can foster a more engaged and productive workforce,” she said.
He said that in today's competitive landscape, relegating workplace design to a mere cost center is a strategic misstep.
"Forward-thinking organizations understand that their physical environment is a powerful tool for shaping brand identity, attracting and retaining top talent, and driving future growth. Senior management increasingly views the workplace as a dynamic asset, not a static expense. Dey added.
The concept of 'Office Peacocking' gained significant momentum in India post-Covid as companies sought to entice employees to return to the office following the pandemic-induced remote work shift to compete with the convenience of offices. at home, according to human resources services provider TeamLease. "Executive director of services and personnel, Kartik Narayan, said."
Peacocking involves redesigning office spaces with stylish décor, modern furniture, cozy nooks, natural light and well-stocked pantries to create a welcoming and vibrant work environment. The goal is to make the office more attractive and pleasant for employees, improving their willingness to return to in-person work.
"Companies are allocating a substantial portion of their budgets to office redesign. Although specific numbers vary, investments in office aesthetics are considered strategic measures to improve employee morale and productivity. For example, "Big tech companies could spend millions on these types of initiatives to ensure their offices are attractive to top talent," Narayan said.
The technology, finance and consulting sectors are particularly interested in office swagger, as these sectors face increased competition for talent and a greater need to entice employees to return to physical workspaces, he said.
When asked if this trend is a temporary phenomenon, Narayan said it is likely to grow as hybrid work models persist. "Companies see creating an engaging work environment as crucial to employee retention and satisfaction. As hybrid working remains popular, the need to offer a compelling reason for employees to return to the office will drive further investment in the office swagger," he added.
Echoing this view, HR director and CEO of staffing firm CIEL, Aditya Narayan Mishra, said that in the last 2-3 years, 'Office Peacock' has seen remarkable growth, with an estimated increase in 25 to 30 percent on investment in office aesthetics and interior design.
Major metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Hyderabad are leading the 'Office Peacock', as these cities are home to many multinational corporations and startups, which have been at the forefront of adopting such trends, Mishra said.
He said that "on average, companies allocate approximately 5 to 10 percent of their total office budget for 'Office Peacock.' However, this allocation can fluctuate significantly depending on the size of the company and the magnitude of the redesign".
The IT and technology sector, followed by the finance and consulting sectors, lean more towards the "Office Peacock", as these sectors often have the budget and need to create an attractive work environment to retain talent and impress customers, he noted.
Mishra said Office Peacock has shown a notable decrease of around 15 to 20 percent in turnover intentions compared to standard office environments.
"This shows that attractive office spaces have had a positive impact on reducing attrition rates. Employees tend to stay longer in companies that invest in creating pleasant and stimulating work environments," he added.
Titir Dey, global CEO of workplace design firm Space Matrix, said the term 'Office Peacocking' recently gained prominence as companies looked for ways to attract employees back to the office after the pandemic. , focusing heavily on aesthetic and technological improvements.
“By creating empathetic spaces that address both functional and emotional requirements, organizations can foster a more engaged and productive workforce,” she said.
He said that in today's competitive landscape, relegating workplace design to a mere cost center is a strategic misstep.
"Forward-thinking organizations understand that their physical environment is a powerful tool for shaping brand identity, attracting and retaining top talent, and driving future growth. Senior management increasingly views the workplace as a dynamic asset, not a static expense. Dey added.
