IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i6p2613-d1613391.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Role of the Workplace Environment in Shaping Employees’ Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Simona Dumitriu

    (Doctoral School of Economic Sciences “Eugeniu Carada”, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Claudiu George Bocean

    (Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru

    (Department of Economics, Accounting and International Business, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Andreea Teodora Al-Floarei

    (Doctoral School of Economic Sciences “Eugeniu Carada”, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Natalița Maria Sperdea

    (Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Florentina Luminița Popescu

    (Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Ionuț-Cosmin Băloi

    (Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 13 A.I. Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

Abstract

In recent years, researchers and organizations have increasingly focused on understanding how various aspects of the work environment affect employees’ well-being, acknowledging its critical influence on organizational performance and employee satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the work environment on employees’ well-being, paying attention to the physical and social dimensions, organizational job characteristics, intrinsic job factors, and employees’ perspectives on their roles. The research used a survey to collect data from Romanian employees across diverse sectors. Structural equation modeling enabled analysis of the relationships between these variables and their direct or indirect influence on well-being. The results demonstrate that the work environment’s physical and social aspects, intrinsic job characteristics, and future perspectives significantly contribute to employees’ well-being. Key organizational factors, such as job autonomy and managerial support, enhance work experience. The findings indicate that enhancing workplace conditions and relationships can positively affect employees’ well-being, with broader implications for organizational productivity and employee retention. This study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to workplace design, integrating physical and social elements to promote higher levels of employee engagement.

Suggested Citation

  • Simona Dumitriu & Claudiu George Bocean & Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru & Andreea Teodora Al-Floarei & Natalița Maria Sperdea & Florentina Luminița Popescu & Ionuț-Cosmin Băloi, 2025. "The Role of the Workplace Environment in Shaping Employees’ Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-27, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2613-:d:1613391
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2613/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/6/2613/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daniel Roque Gomes & Neuza Ribeiro & Maria João Santos, 2023. "“Searching for Gold” with Sustainable Human Resources Management and Internal Communication: Evaluating the Mediating Role of Employer Attractiveness for Explaining Turnover Intention and Performance," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Plaisier, Inger & de Bruijn, Jeanne G.M. & de Graaf, Ron & Have, Margreet ten & Beekman, Aartjan T.F. & Penninx, Brenda W.J.H., 2007. "The contribution of working conditions and social support to the onset of depressive and anxiety disorders among male and female employees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 401-410, January.
    3. Elizabeth M. Harrison & Emily A. Schmied & Alexandra P. Easterling & Abigail M. Yablonsky & Gena L. Glickman, 2020. "A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Study of a Multi-Component Lighting Intervention for Hospital Shift Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Chiara Costa & Michele Teodoro & Annalisa De Vita & Federica Giambò & Carmela Mento & Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello & Angela Alibrandi & Sebastiano Italia & Concettina Fenga, 2022. "Factors Affecting Perceived Work Environment, Wellbeing, and Coping Styles: A Comparison between Physicians and Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Martin Gelencsér & Gábor Szabó-Szentgróti & Zsolt Sándor Kőmüves & Gábor Hollósy-Vadász, 2023. "The Holistic Model of Labour Retention: The Impact of Workplace Wellbeing Factors on Employee Retention," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Rongpeng Zhang & Carolina Campanella & Sara Aristizabal & Anja Jamrozik & Jie Zhao & Paige Porter & Shaun Ly & Brent A. Bauer, 2020. "Impacts of Dynamic LED Lighting on the Well-Being and Experience of Office Occupants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-27, October.
    7. Omer Farooq & Marielle Payaud & Dwight Merunka & Pierre Valette-Florence, 2014. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Organizational Commitment: Exploring Multiple Mediation Mechanisms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(4), pages 563-580, December.
    8. Umair Akram & Melinda Timea Fülöp & Adriana Tiron-Tudor & Dan Ioan Topor & Sorinel Căpușneanu, 2021. "Impact of Digitalization on Customers’ Well-Being in the Pandemic Period: Challenges and Opportunities for the Retail Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-21, July.
    9. Miriam Andrejiová & Miriama Piňosová & Ružena Králiková & Bystrík Dolník & Pavol Liptai & Erika Dolníková, 2019. "Analysis of the Impact of Selected Physical Environmental Factors on the Health of Employees: Creating a Classification Model Using a Decision Tree," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    10. Kalliath, Thomas & Brough, Paula, 2008. "Work–life balance: A review of the meaning of the balance construct," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 323-327, July.
    11. Omer Farooq & Marielle Payaud & Dwight Merunka & Pierre Valette-Florence, 2014. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Organizational Commitment: Exploring Multiple Mediation Mechanisms," Post-Print halshs-01365817, HAL.
    12. Yoko E. Fukumura & Julie McLaughlin Gray & Gale M. Lucas & Burcin Becerik-Gerber & Shawn C. Roll, 2021. "Worker Perspectives on Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Office Workspaces: Implications for the Future of Office Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    13. Dash, Ganesh & Paul, Justin, 2021. "CB-SEM vs PLS-SEM methods for research in social sciences and technology forecasting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    14. Christina Bodin Danielsson & Töres Theorell, 2024. "Office Design’s Impact on Psychosocial Work Environment and Emotional Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-22, April.
    15. Diego Bellini & Barbara Barbieri & Michela Loi & Marina Mondo & Silvia De Simone, 2023. "The Restorative Quality of the Work Environments: The Moderation Effect of Environmental Resources between Job Demands and Mindfulness," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-14, June.
    16. Omer Farooq & Marielle Payaud & Dwight Merunka & Pierre Valette-Florence, 2014. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Organizational Commitment: Exploring Multiple Mediation Mechanisms," Post-Print hal-01822315, HAL.
    17. Opeyemi Olunike Joel & Chinoyen Love Moses & Ebeguki Edith Igbinoba & Maxwell Ayodele Olokundun & Odunayo Paul Salau & Oluwatunmise Ojebola & Olufunke P. Adebayo, 2023. "Bolstering the Moderating Effect of Supervisory Innovative Support on Organisational Learning and Employees’ Engagement," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-12, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Behrooz Gharleghi & Asghar Afshar Jahanshahi & Khaled Nawaser, 2018. "The Outcomes of Corporate Social Responsibility to Employees: Empirical Evidence from a Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Nematollah Shiri & Vahid Jafari‐Sadeghi, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and green behaviour: Towards sustainable food‐business development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 605-620, March.
    3. Mansoora Ahmed & Sun Zehou & Syed Ali Raza & Muhammad Asif Qureshi & Sara Qamar Yousufi, 2020. "Impact of CSR and environmental triggers on employee green behavior: The mediating effect of employee well‐being," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2225-2239, September.
    4. David A. Jones & Alexander Newman & Ruodan Shao & Fang Lee Cooke, 2019. "Advances in Employee-Focused Micro-Level Research on Corporate Social Responsibility: Situating New Contributions Within the Current State of the Literature," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 293-302, June.
    5. Seunghee Im & Yang Woon Chung & Ji Yeon Yang, 2016. "Employees’ Participation in Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Person–CSR Fit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Suyun Chen & Yu Ji, 2022. "Do Corporate Social Responsibility Categories Distinctly Influence Innovation? A Resource-Based Theory Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-25, March.
    7. Amal Alnamrouti & Husam Rjoub & Hale Ozgit, 2022. "Do Strategic Human Resources and Artificial Intelligence Help to Make Organisations More Sustainable? Evidence from Non-Governmental Organisations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, June.
    8. Salih Börteçine Avci & Adnan Karataş, 2022. "Public Service Motivation’s Mediating Role in the Effect Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Justice Have on Organizational Commitment in Higher Education Institutions," Journal of Economy Culture and Society, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 66(66), pages 29-54, December.
    9. Charles H. Schwepker & Sean R. Valentine & Robert A. Giacalone & Mark Promislo, 2021. "Good Barrels Yield Healthy Apples: Organizational Ethics as a Mechanism for Mitigating Work-Related Stress and Promoting Employee Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 143-159, November.
    10. Min-Jik Kim & Byung-Jik Kim, 2021. "The Performance Implication of Corporate Social Responsibility: The Moderating Role of Employee’s Prosocial Motivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    11. Pisani, Niccolò & Kourula, Arno & Kolk, Ans & Meijer, Renske, 2017. "How global is international CSR research? Insights and recommendations from a systematic review," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 591-614.
    12. Paraskevi (Evi) Dekoulou & Anna Anastasopoulou & Panagiotis Trivellas, 2023. "Employee Performance Implications of CSR for Organizational Resilience in the Banking Industry: The Mediation Role of Psychological Empowerment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Cao, Shaopeng & Yao, Hongjiang & Zhang, Min, 2023. "CSR gap and firm performance: An organizational justice perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    14. Wójcik Piotr, 2018. "The business case for corporate social responsibility: A literature overview and integrative framework," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 26(1), pages 121-148, March.
    15. Louise Tourigny & Jian Han & Vishwanath V. Baba & Polly Pan, 2019. "Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility in China: A Multilevel Study of Their Effects on Trust and Organizational Citizenship Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(2), pages 427-440, August.
    16. Huma Sarwar & Muhammad Ishtiaq Ishaq & Simona Franzoni, 2024. "Influence of HRM on CSR and performance of upscale hotels in developed and developing countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 335-357, January.
    17. Sabeen Hussain Bhatti & Kamran Iqbal & Gabriele Santoro & Fabio Rizzato, 2022. "The impact of corporate social responsibility directed toward employees on contextual performance in the banking sector: A serial model of perceived organizational support and affective organizational," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(6), pages 1980-1994, November.
    18. Walid Cheffi & Ahmed Abdel-Maksoud & Muhammad Omer Farooq, 2021. "CSR initiatives, organizational performance and the mediating role of integrating CSR into management control systems: Testing an inclusive model within SMEs in an emerging economy," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 333-367, September.
    19. Christoph Harrach & Sonja Geiger & Ulf Schrader, 2020. "Sustainability empowerment in the workplace: determinants and effects," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 93-107, December.
    20. Suad Dukhaykh & Khlood Alshahrani, 2025. "Corporate Social Responsibility Perception and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the Saudi Banking Sector: The Mediating Role of Person–Corporate Social Responsibility Fit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:6:p:2613-:d:1613391. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.