Offices make comeback as ‘primary workplace’
The office has “re-emerged as the primary place of business” across Europe and the US, according to research from VTS.
A 59% majority of companies are mandating or encouraging employees to spend more time in offices, with an additional 55% expected to do so over the next six months, according to VTS’ first Global workplace report.
VTS said this signalled a much stronger conviction around the workplace, as the return to offices continues to gain momentum.
The office has “re-emerged as the primary place of business” across Europe and the US, according to research from VTS.
A 59% majority of companies are mandating or encouraging employees to spend more time in offices, with an additional 55% expected to do so over the next six months, according to VTS’ first Global workplace report.
VTS said this signalled a much stronger conviction around the workplace, as the return to offices continues to gain momentum.
Only 1% of companies in Europe and the US have gone fully remote.
The proportion of global companies back in the office full-time stood at 38%.
Nearly 30% of employees in Europe were required to be in the office for five days a week.
However, almost 60% of businesses said their employees worked from home at some point during the week.
A 67% majority believed their building provided sufficient collaborative spaces outside the workplace suite.
The survey also showed that 92% of company leaders wanted a singular app for both building and office access, with 52% desiring mobile access capability.
Companies displayed a high degree of confidence in the success of their workplace plans and strategies, according to VTS, including their office footprints.
Some 84% of respondents had a positive assessment of employee satisfaction and receptiveness towards workplace policies, while 69% said their office was the right size to meet their needs.
Collaboration, community, and productivity were found to be the dominant drivers for their talent to return to the office, with 36% pointing to in-person collaboration and community as the biggest motivators.
Nearly half (49%) said producing engagement activities that were specific and targeted to their company would positively influence sentiment.
VTS chief executive Nick Romito said: “With more employees getting back in offices, landlords and companies need to be considering the on-site experience of employees and the technology needed to manage it, as tenants’ demands have shifted greatly during the pandemic.”
Photo © Damir Kopezhanov/Unsplash
