Workplace aesthetics and employee behaviour: introducing the Office Peacocking Scale (OPS)

Purpose This study introduces the concept of Office Peacocking, defined as the deliberate enhancement of office aesthetics and amenities to attract attention and influence employee behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate the Office Peacocking Scale (OPS), a psychometric tool that measures how workplace aesthetics impact employee engagement, time spent in the office and social dynamics. Design/methodology/approach Using the DeVellis scale development method, the study followed a multi-stage process involving item generation, expert validation, pilot testing and exploratory factor analysis. A survey was administered to 375 employees across corporate sectors such as IT, finance, marketing and operations. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and factor analysis was conducted to determine underlying dimensions. Findings The OPS scale demonstrated acceptable reliability and revealed two dimensions: Aesthetic-Experiential Display and Symbolic-Social Signalling. The results suggest that enhanced office aesthetics significantly influence employee motivation, visibility-seeking behaviours and emotional connection to the workplace. Research limitations/implications The findings are based on a cross-sectional survey within a limited geographic and sectoral scope, which may affect generalizability. Future studies could explore longitudinal validation and cross-cultural applicability of the scale. Practical implications The OPS scale offers HR professionals and workspace designers a practical tool to evaluate how employees perceive and respond to office enhancements. It supports strategic decisions in workplace design aimed at boosting engagement, retention, and organizational identity. By understanding the psychological and social effects of office aesthetics, organizations can foster inclusive and meaningful work environments that go beyond superficial design trends. Originality/value This study pioneers the empirical measurement of Office Peacocking, contributing a validated scale and offering fresh insights into the symbolic and behavioural implications of workplace aesthetics.