Beyond aesthetics: investigating the interplay between office design, employer brand and employee intention to leave

Purpose Through the perspective of current employees, this study aims to investigate the relationship between different office configurations, employer brand evaluations and employees’ intentions to leave the company. Design/methodology/approach This paper studied 2,025 office employees in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy using an online survey. It employed ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and mediation analysis to investigate how office type relates to employer brand evaluations and the intention to leave the company. Findings The analysis shows a significant relationship between office type and both variables. Three office configurations shape these relationships: shared rooms and flex offices lower employer brand evaluations, while large open-plan offices increase turnover intention. Employer brand mediates the relationship between office type and intention to leave the company. Shared rooms and flex spaces indirectly raise turnover intention by lowering employer brand ratings. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to examine the interplay between different office types, employer brand evaluations and employees’ intentions to leave the company from the perspective of current employees.