5 Office Building Amenities That Make a Difference in Employee Satisfaction

Food is a great motivator – F&B amenities such as cafes, restaurants, and bars in the workplace are consistently reported to have the most impact on employee satisfaction.

In the 2024 Food for Work Report published by ezCater, 78% of employees feel that having easy access to food at work is a gesture that shows they are valued at the workplace.^[3]

With the lunchtime crunch in the CBD being a pain point for many employees, it makes sense that having a good selection of F&B amenities around the office building makes lunchtime easier for employees.

Grade A office buildings like Shaw Tower take it one step further by housing dedicated F&B sections in the building. Shaw Tower has planned for cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, and baristas located within the building itself – a 5-storey podium containing retail and F&B, including a rooftop bar and restaurant – allowing employees to get lunch and refreshments without ever having to exit the building. Notwithstanding, Shaw Tower’s location is more than ideal with a plethora of food options from local eateries across the road, to a large mall – Suntec City just across a bridge, to executive dining at its rooftop restaurant or adjacent properties for more options too.

Electric vehicles (EV) are quickly becoming the future of private transportation.

For the first time ever in 2026, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) reported there were more new registrations for EVs (57.6%) than registrations for combustion and hybrid vehicles.^[4]

With more EVs on the road, EV charging facilities in office buildings are seen as a bonus – in line with it being one of the top five workplace amenities for employee satisfaction. Eventually, EV charging facilities will become a requirement for office buildings – meaning that businesses must also consider it from a future-proofing perspective.

As a new Grade A building, Shaw Tower will have dedicated parking and charging spaces for EVs, providing workers with greater convenience for their commute.

Pantries and kitchenettes are a staple of the traditional office fit out – but while older workplaces place less emphasis on the pantry, modern workspaces have the opportunity to create dedicated break rooms for employees to recharge throughout the workday.

In many cases, older buildings with rigid, traditional layouts have limited room for a pantry or kitchenette. With these limitations, it’s not uncommon for businesses to forgo having a pantry altogether, which negatively affects employee satisfaction.

To support the space and utility connections required for a pantry or kitchenette, the office building must have a flexible enough layout.

This is why newer office buildings like Shaw Tower have larger floorplates and flexible layouts to accommodate high-quality office fit-outs that include a pantry. Shaw Tower has office floor plans from 18,000 to 20,000 square feet, featuring a side-core configuration, creating virtually column-free spaces that businesses can shape to their needs.

Modern workplaces now incorporate smart technology for convenience, energy saving, and efficiency – smaller, mundane tasks are now automated so that employees can focus on delivering more valuable work.

And these benefits are not only favourable for employers – 72% of employees consider their digital workplace to be extremely important to their experience.^[5]

Shaw Tower integrates smart technology throughout to support both convenience and safety.

• Destination control lifts group passengers travelling to the same floors, reducing wait times and enables speed efficiencies of lifts.
• Inbuilt wireless technology enables and supports internet access throughout the building.
• Automatic doors minimise physical contact points for entry and exit.

Shaw Tower also has a dedicated building app that enhances the tenant experience. Employees can directly control building access, book shared meeting room amenities, and stay updated with ongoing promotions and events within the building. Employees may also be able to order coffee directly from vendors in the building.

Employees favour workspaces with greenery and open spaces, rather than being cooped up indoors.

Research shows that employees in workplaces with green building elements are 15% more satisfied with the workplace environment compared to buildings with little to no green/natural elements.^[6]

To provide a conducive environment for work, Shaw Tower’s design specifically incorporates biophilic design features. Employees and tenants have access to rooftop gardens, greenery, and natural light throughout the building, contributing to mental health and overall wellness.