It is not you who are tired: it is your office that exhausts you

It is not you who are tired: it is your office that exhausts you
Persistent fatigue, diffuse tensions … What if ill-being at work had a much more visible cause than you think? Each day, millions of French people try to maintain their performance in professional environments which slow them down more than they motivate them. Designed without real logic, these spaces hinder energy, gradually snacking on physical and mental well-being.

This is revealed by the first “UFIPA barometer of the work environment and creativity”, published by the Union of the Papetière sector on the occasion of World Welfare Day. This survey reveals that material working conditions have a direct impact on the body, spirit and the commitment of employees.

We learn that three out of four French people say they have already suffered from an unsuitable workspace. Among the most recurring discomfort are physical pain (54 %), concentration disorders (51 %) and time loss due to disorder or lack of tools (40 %). So many brakes that directly impact their commitment and efficiency.

Beyond discomfort, mental health is undermined. 88% of respondents believe that their working environment influences their psychological well-being. For 87%, it even conditions their personal development. Proof that the organization of the working environment is not a matter of simple aesthetics.

What employees want? A more ergonomic space above all, for 64% of them. Follow better natural light (54%) and quality acoustics (42%). For teleworkers, complaints extend to the lack of storage (39%) and the inadequacy of digital tools (41%).

The paper always acclaimed

Through this barometer, UFIPA, federation of stationery and office supplies, intends to recall that everyday tools are also performance levers. “(One) well-equipped and well thought out working environment is essential to the well-being of its user, whatever their age and that it is in business or at home,” said Stéphanie Verrier, president of UFIPA, in a press release.

In this quest for meaning and efficiency, an unexpected actor resurfaces: paper. Faced with all-numerical, it keeps a special place in organizational habits. Store, share, look? Digital wins the bet. But to structure your ideas, clarify your thought or better memorize, 84% of French people still prefer paper.

Among those under 35, 66% regularly use stationery supplies, compared to 47% for those over 35. Teleworkers included. More exposed to cognitive overload, they also acclaim the paper to restore order in their day.

This barometer clearly recalls that an adapted work environment is not superfluous comfort, but an essential condition for well-being, concentration and performance. Because between physical comfort, mental clarity and well -chosen tools, it is our entire way of working that it is possible to transform.

*This barometer, led by OpinionWay for Ufipa in April 2025, is based on an online survey carried out with a representative sample of 1055 French ages 18 and over, according to the quota method. He explores the perception of the working environment, whether professional (office or telework) or personal (creative activities at home), taking into account space development, brightness, equipment as well as computer and stationery tools used.