Survey: One in Four On-site Employees Would Rather Do Their Taxes Than Work in A Bad Workspace

New Harris Poll/National Business Furniture research underscores importance of workspace design to engagement and attendance

WEST ALLIS, Wis., April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 76% of on-site employees say they would rather do something unpleasant than work in a poorly designed workspace, according to new research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of National Business Furniture (NBF). That includes 24% of on-site employees who say they would rather do their taxes; 25% who would rather sit in the middle seat on an airplane for a 6-hour flight; and 28% who would rather stay on hold with customer service for an hour than work in a poorly designed workspace.

"Employees are telling us loud and clear: the quality of their office matters," said Yonca Heyse, President of NBF. "When people can't focus, feel physically uncomfortable, or lack space that supports the way they work, it affects everything, from their productivity to whether they feel valued."

The survey also reveals that nearly three-quarters (73%) of on-site employees feel frustrated with their current workspace. More than half of workers ages 55+ and nearly 80% of employees ages 18-54 reported frustrations.

These issues are taking a measurable toll on employee experience and could impact productivity and morale. More than half (57%) of on-site employees say they struggle to concentrate or focus on tasks at work at least sometimes. Over half (52%) experience frustration that meeting spaces don't meet their needs at least sometimes. 

If those issues were addressed, the employee experience could be improved:

• 83% of on-site employees who experience workspace frustrations say they'd feel more valued by their employer. Nearly two in five expressed this sentiment strongly (39%). 
• 77% of hybrid employees who experience workspace frustration would work on-site more.

"Frustration with the physical workspace crosses generations and has a tangible daily impact," said Heyse. "It's time employers across sectors and business sizes gave improvements strong consideration."

Download the full report, including data on the most frustrating workspace challenges and the improvements employees would like prioritized at NBF.com/fix-my-office.

About the Study 

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of National Business Furniture from February 19 - 23, 2026, among 1,057 employed U.S. adults ages 18 and older who work on-site. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 3.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Meghan Bitenc. Visit www.nationalbusinessfurniture.com/fix-my-office#surveyMethodology to view and download the full infographic highlighting these findings.

About National Business Furniture 

National Business Furniture (NBF) operates on a simple idea: Every business deserves furniture that lasts, service that cares, and a partner that gets it — at a budget that works. That's National Business Furniture's commitment. As the leading provider of office furniture and accessories for businesses, NBF offers an unmatched selection — including standing desks, ergonomic chairs, conference tables, reception seating, and more — all built to last. NBF backs its selection with great prices, fast delivery, and a best-in-class 15-year warranty. Customers can shop online at NBF.com or partner with NBF's local specialists for space planning and design support to meet their needs and budget. Visit NBF.com to experience the better way to buy office furniture. 

SOURCE National Business Furniture LLC