Oct 10 2026
Want to keep your best people as your company grows?
Every expanding company reaches the same point. You hire rapidly, you jam more desks into the workspace and all of a sudden...
Your top performers start handing in their notice.
Here's the problem:
Replacing a good employee costs you money. Think anywhere between 50% and 200% of their yearly salary, depending on seniority. This doesn't even take into account lost expertise, time spent hiring, and damaged team morale.
The good news?
One of your best retention tools can be your office. And it's frequently the most neglected.
Let's jump in!
Growth is exciting. But it puts a ton of pressure on your workspace.
When organizations grow headcount, the typical response is… more of the same. Add more desks. Remove walls. Go completely open plan. It’s sleek. It’s inexpensive. And it seems like an easy solution.
But it creates a brand new problem...
Noise. Distraction. Zero privacy.
Think about it:
If you cannot hear yourself think you cannot do your best work. When you can't do your best work you become frustrated. Frustrated employees start looking at job boards.
The research supports this assertion. In Gensler's 2025 Global Workplace Survey, just 26% of workers say they strongly agree that their workplace enables them to do their best work. That's 1 in 4, give or take.
So what's the fix? Start with privacy.
Office privacy screens are one of the quickest solutions to transform an unbearable open plan office into a productive workspace. Desk screens and freestanding office privacy screens provide employees with their own workspace, reduce visual distractions and help muffle the sounds traveling between desks. You maintain the open, collaborative environment that start-ups appreciate. Your employees benefit from having their own quiet space to concentrate. Partnering with knowledgeable office dividers specialists can help you select the ideal screen height, material and arrangement based on your team's size and budget.
Pretty simple, right?
Your office sends a message to your team every single day.
A cluttered, loud environment communicates to your customers that no one cared about them. An intentionally planned environment conveys that you want them to do their best work while being there. Employees will feel the difference... even if they don't voice it.
Here's why that matters:
According to the same Gensler study, employees only spend 55% of their time in the office. However, to do their best work they should be in the office closer to 65% of the time. Employees want to be in the office. They just need an office that works for them.
And the biggest complaint? Focus space.
According to a survey by the U. S. General Services Administration, 60% of workers reported that they could be more productive if their workspace was quieter. That means over half of your employees are losing productivity each day.
When the office works, staff feel:
And people who feel valued and productive are far less likely to leave.
Ok, on to the application. You don't need to take on grandiose ideas or completely relocate your office. Try a few of these out, implement them and observe your employees.
Every office needs a place where people can switch off from the noise.
It could be a tiny room. Or a corner of the floor. Or a row of desks dedicated to concentration. Pop up a simple "quiet zone" sign. And agree to some team ground rules. No calls. No meetings. No loud conversations.
It's practically free. Yet it provides your team with a place to go when they need to focus.
This is the easiest win on the list...
Privacy between workstations is vital in an open office environment. Screens provide each employee with a defined workspace and do not isolate coworkers. Privacy screens are also great for conference calls, video conferences and any task that requires focus.
Opt for acoustic styles upholstered in sound absorbing fabric. These cushions help reduce noise and help create privacy for people. Perfect!
Plus office privacy screens are freestanding or desk mounted so you can easily rearrange as your team expands. Need to add someone to the roster? Simply insert another screen. No construction crews, no downtime and no disruptions from refits.
Quiet matters. But so does teamwork.
Scaling businesses need ideas to spread from person to person. Create some spaces designed for collaboration. Small meeting pods, breakout spaces with couches or standing tables by the kitchen are great options.
Balance is critical. Collaboration gets its own place so it doesn't overwhelm the core areas. All win.
May sound trivial, but speaks volumes for company morale.
Arrange desks nearer to windows as much as possible. Replace fluorescent lights with warmer lighting. Place some plants throughout the office to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Employees spend a massive portion of their week in your office. One of the easiest ways to demonstrate you care is by creating a more enjoyable environment.
Here's something most companies skip...
They redesign offices without input from the people who use them every day. Gensler reported that just 21% of office workers who recently experienced an office refresh say they were very included in the decision making.
That's a missed opportunity.
Poll your staff with a brief survey. Inquire what is working for them. Ask what's not. Find out what would enable them to do better work. Then listen. When employees see you implementing their suggestions, they know you value them. And employees who feel valued don't usually look for another job.
Office design isn't simply aesthetics. It's about how your employees feel when they arrive each day.
When your business is expanding, it's easy to get caught up in recruiting new talent and overlook your employee workspace. Use smart design to help retain those valuable employees you worked so hard to recruit.
To quickly recap:
Start with one or two changes. See how your team reacts. Then keep improving.
It really is that simple.
Tell me what you need and I'll get back to you right away.