Employee retention is no longer determined by salary and benefits alone. Modern employees also consider workplace quality, leadership culture, flexibility, wellbeing and the experience of working within an organisation each day.
Workplace Experience & Employee Retention explores how the physical workplace influences how people feel, behave and connect with their organisation. It explains why Facilities Management is becoming increasingly central to employee experience and how strong workplace environments can support engagement, collaboration, wellbeing, cultural identity and workforce stability.
The psychological effect of the workplace
The guide examines the psychological effect of the workplace, from comfort, energy and motivation to frustration, fatigue and emotional detachment. It considers how layout, environmental quality, maintenance standards, lighting, acoustics, cleanliness and overall atmosphere communicate organisational values and influence how employees experience company culture.
Hybrid working and the office
Readers will also explore how hybrid working has changed expectations of the office. Employees increasingly expect the workplace to provide meaningful reasons to attend, including collaboration, connection, social interaction, energy and high-quality environments. The guide argues that the office must now earn attendance through the experience it offers.
Hospitality-led FM and workplace amenities
Further sections examine hospitality-led Facilities Management, workplace amenities, belonging, psychological safety and the removal of everyday operational friction. The guide explains how cafés, wellness spaces, social areas, quiet rooms, gyms and event spaces can become strategic tools supporting engagement, satisfaction and retention rather than simply optional perks.
The workplace and employer branding
It also considers the workplace’s role in employer branding. Candidates increasingly assess office atmosphere, design quality, workplace energy and environmental standards during the recruitment process, making the physical environment part of an organisation’s ability to attract and convert talent.
What the data says
The evidence linking workplace experience and retention: flexible working, the office environment, retention difficulty and hybrid working patterns.
- Around 1.1 million UK workers say they left a job in the last year because of a lack of flexible working. Source: CIPD, Flexible and hybrid working practices in 2025
- 73% of employees in Leesman's global workplace data say their office environment supports them in sharing ideas and knowledge with colleagues. Source: Leesman, The workplace why, 2025
- 56% of UK organisations say talent is more difficult to retain. Source: CIPD, Resourcing and talent planning report 2024
- More than a quarter (28%) of working adults in Great Britain hybrid worked between January and March 2025. Source: Office for National Statistics, Who has access to hybrid work in Great Britain?, 2025
- 95% of candidates placed by Maxwell Stephens remain in role one year after appointment. Source: Maxwell Stephens, 2026
See it in practice
Workplace, Wellbeing & Facilities Appointments for SBHG
SBHG, a housing association serving West London, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Workspace, EDI & Wellbeing Business Partner and a Facilities Coordinator. We developed a targeted strategy for each role, assessing workplace experience, communication, cultural alignment and a proactive approach to change. The Business Partner brought dedicated leadership on employee experience, inclusion and wellbeing, supporting a more structured approach to workplace experience. It shows an organisation investing in workplace experience and wellbeing as part of how it engages its people.
Read the full case study or browse all case studies.
Related reading
- Employee Retention Strategies for 2026: How to Keep Your Best People
- Small Things Make a Big Difference: Improving the Working Environment
- The Workplace Priorities Employees Value Most
Practical guides
Free Maxwell Stephens guides on the same subject:
Who this resource is for
Facilities Managers, Heads of Facilities, FM Directors, workplace and estates leaders, HR professionals, people leaders, business leaders and organisations seeking to improve employee engagement, workplace attendance and staff retention.
Designed for FM, workplace, HR and business leaders, this resource shows how experience-led Facilities Management can help organisations create better places to work, stronger reasons to stay and improved long-term business outcomes.
Talk to Maxwell Stephens
Maxwell Stephens is a specialist Facilities Management recruitment consultancy. If you are planning an FM, estates or workplace appointment, contact us for a confidential conversation, or read our case studies to see how comparable searches were run.