Poor air quality at work is also an invisible cost: 44% of active workers estimate it to be over €100 per month per workstation.

Is workplace air quality a new hidden cost for French companies? OberA surveyed 3,100 active workers in France to provide quantified data on the concrete impact of a lack of air management — symptoms, absenteeism, decreased productivity, lost time, and direct costs — and to measure the actual cost for businesses.

Deplorable workplace air quality for more than 1 in 2 French people

Over the last three months of 2026, 56% of active French people rate workplace air quality as average to very poor. Even though 43% consider it good or very good, this disparity highlights significant potential for improvement for companies.

Concrete effects on employees

And for those affected, it’s not anecdotal: 37% say these effects recur at least 2 to 3 times a week (25% frequently + 12% very frequently).

How many days of absence result from air quality?

Over the past 12 months, 59% of French people estimate they have had at least one day of absence related to symptoms occurring or aggravated by poor air quality at work — and 11% even report more than six days. The impact is therefore very concrete on activity, and absenteeism linked to the work environment appears to be a cost largely underestimated by companies.

Significant consequences for productivity

These are far from occasional occurrences: 45% say they experience these days at least 3 days out of 4 weeks, including 16% for more than 10 days. A recurring phenomenon rather than a simple isolated incident.

A direct challenge to performance and business continuity

During episodes of poor air quality, 41% of respondents observe a decrease in vigilance and nearly a quarter mention more frequent errors (23%) or rework (19%). Even more concerning, 17% report stoppages or slowdowns in activity, while only 29% observe no impact.

Lost time that quickly accumulates

Resignations caused by poor air quality?

Air quality is no longer a minor detail and is even becoming a concrete issue for employee engagement and talent retention. Indeed, 68% of respondents believe it affected their motivation or desire to stay with a company. The even more striking figure: 17% already consider it a reason for leaving.

Costs still unclear but very real

Indoor air problems also translate into very real costs: 38% of respondents estimate their company spent at least €1,000 over the year, and nearly one in ten (9%) even mention over €20k. But the most telling figure is that of people who do not express an opinion: 31% admit not knowing how to quantify these expenses, a sign that the weight of this cost item is still poorly measured.

An invisible but very real cost

According to 44% of French people, poor air quality costs their company at least €100 per month per workstation, with 19% estimating over €250 (and 9% over €500). Despite this quantified perception, 22% do not know how to estimate it, suggesting that productivity losses related to indoor air remain largely underestimated in organizations.

“This survey shows that poor air at work is not just a feeling: it’s an operational cost, made up of lost productivity, absenteeism, and business disruptions. This reinforces OberA’s actions and leverages our expertise, which consists of quickly diagnosing causes, prioritizing effective actions, and transforming a blind spot into measurable gains for teams and the company.”

Thibaut SAMSEL Director and Founder of OberA