Now that return-to-office mandates are increasing, employees may start to think about the kind of offices they want to go back to and what kind of environment would make their work and their lifestyles most worthwhile.
CBRE has an answer: one that fosters collaboration and community. These factors, it found, are the most critical drivers of in-office attendance.
"The office isn't just a place to do work; it's a place to connect and create," CBRE said. Its finding is based on five years of office benchmarking and sentiment surveys of clients with an average office portfolio of 5 million square feet.
Office design is a key factor in creating a space where employees can enjoy social time, such as team lunches, retirement celebrations or wellness events, as well as work together on projects that benefit from their shared expertise.
"It's the result of intentional design choices that prioritize interaction and the creation of social hubs," the report stated. "The physical space is undergoing a dramatic transformation reflecting the evolving needs of the modern workforce."
Everyday conveniences like cafes and restaurants, ice-cream socials, hot cocoa bars and free parking all contribute to the social aspects of office life.
Just as important is workplace planning, which prioritizes flexibility and access to a dynamic set of spaces that accommodate a range of work styles, instead of the employee-behind-the-desk practice of many offices. This is not a passing fad, according to CBRE, but a concept that has grown significantly and best represents the future of clients' offices: spaces that are adaptable, collaborative and designed to support a wide range of activities.
Despite the rapid growth of remote work in recent years, employees also increasingly value support space in the office due to a greater reliance on technology, IT support, data security and e-commerce. A focus on efficiency, security and the need to accommodate specialized equipment and functions for a hybrid workforce also makes support space welcome.
The report also addresses the hierarchical structure companies have historically used to allocate space.
"While workstyle (53%) is the primary driver for workstation assignments, job title (45%) and band level (42%) still heavily influence the assignment of individual offices. Most individual offices are reserved for 'leaders of leaders' (87%), which reinforces a traditional hierarchical approach," CBRE stated.
It noted that this can undermine the sense of community and collaboration that offices seek. It may also be wasteful if the individuals who occupy those offices travel frequently, leaving their offices unused, unlike workstations.
To overcome these challenges, companies should proactively design and cultivate an environment that meets the needs of the modern office, the report advised. This means spaces that prioritize social connectivity, create a holistic experience, embrace flexibility, and foster inclusivity.
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