Poor quality office space risks hampering recruitment of new council staff, with over two-thirds of employees wanting workplace changes – a poll reveals.

Local authority bosses were today urged to make better use of their working environments after a survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found widespread demand for improvement in offices managed by the sector.

While 68% of local government employees said they wanted upgrades to properties in which they work, 92% of those who work indoors said offices play a major role in whether they accept a new job.

The survey found only ‘pay’ and ‘people’ were seen to be more important than the quality of workplace, which even outranked ‘progression opportunities’.

On a national level, RICS found 80% of respondents said their workplace had a bearing on whether of not they will stay in their current job.

Paul Bagust, director of UK commercial property at RICS, said: ‘With numerous industries currently fighting a war for talent, capable staff and skilled new joiners are like gold-dust for many companies. On that basis, businesses should be doing everything possible to recruit and retain the best people.

‘It’s disappointing, therefore, that many employers seem to be under-estimating – or perhaps not realising – the power of property in motivating, attracting and keeping staff. A well-constructed, designed and utilised office or workplace can pay huge dividends for the business that inhabits it.’

Guy Stallard, Head of Facilities at KPMG said: ‘The role of the physical workplace in employment is imperative to staff recruitment, motivation and retention. These findings reinforce the fact that, surprisingly, many companies are still not doing enough to improve their employees’ surroundings despite demand.’