Two-thirds of workers use DIY ‘hacks’ to make office life more bearable

In a world in which companies are forcing employees back into the office in a never-ending, post-pandemic RTO push, two-thirds of office workers are secretly “hacking” their workspaces to meet their needs. According to an international survey released earlier this year by global design firm Gensler, a clear majority of workers use do-it-yourself fixes to maintain comfort and privacy and personalize their workspaces. The anonymous, panel-based survey included nearly 16,500 workers in 16 countries. It found that although the settings where people work have stabilized over the past three years—the average worker spends 55% of their time in the office and 26% in “coworking spaces, client/vendor sites, third places, or while traveling for business”—challenges remain. A quarter of employees use workspace “hacking” to address ergonomic, temperature, privacy, and storage issues, the report found, with respondents reporting rearranging furniture, bringing in personal heaters and fans, and modifying air vents, among other makeshift solutions. Changes to optimize lighting (like adding extra reading lights) and reduce noise (like using headphones) were also common. In May, Gallup estimated th…