It's not surprising that employees cite compensation as the number one factor that makes them professionally satisfied these days.

What is surprising is that the comfort and aesthetic appearance of their physical workplace ties with benefits in second place.

With an increasing number of people spending more time in their offices, the physical comfort, visual appeal and accessibility of their work environment become increasingly important. In a study commissioned the American Society of Interior Designers, findings showed that:

• Employees who were pleased with their physical workplaces were 31 percent more likely to say they were satisfied with their jobs
• The physical workplace would influence 41 percent of employees and job seekers to accept a position, and
  
• The quality of their physical workplace would influence 51 percent to leave a company.

Even more eye-opening is that 73 percent were not satisfied with the physical workplaces at their current jobs.

These statistics are certainly interesting, particularly given the high costs, headaches and loss of productivity associated with staff member turnover . Wouldn't it make far better sense to keep valuable employees by making small, yet meaningful adjustments to their work environments?

Denise Ones, Ph.D., the Heller Vic Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Minnesota says, "We know that there is a strong relationship between motivation and productivity in the workplace. Employees who are motivated will be more conscientious , dependable and ultimately more productive."