In case you missed it, CBRE launched the results of their latest Office Occupier Sentiment Survey and it makes for interesting reading:
Return to the office: carrot or stick?
The vast majority of those surveyed (68%) planned to actively encourage employees to regularly return to the office by mid-2022, with a smaller proportion opting a Q3 or Q4 return date. Approximately a sixth have no planned time-frame for a return to office based working or prefer an organic approach.
The divide is seemingly drawn along sector lines, with financial companies showing a strong preference for an early return date and tech companies far more laissez-faire.
However, even though the over-all trend indicates that most companies are keen to get their employees back into the office at some point this year, few are still willing to make this a mandatory requirement. Only 6% of companies reported that they require staff to be in the office on a full time basis. There was an even split among the remainder, between those mandating a part time return and those only encouraging the same.
Hybrid continues to dominate
The proportion of companies moving towards a hybrid workplace strategy increased over the last year from 56% up to 72%. The reverse trend was shown for companies planning to be primarily in the office with only occasional flexibility, reducing from 26% down to 10%.
However, how companies arrive at their hybrid strategy is still an on-going process. Just over half of those surveyed have (or are developing) a formal policy, with the balance either relying on managers to provide the guidance or taking a wait and see approach.
Of those with strategies in place or under development, most (54%) will offer a degree of employee autonomy, with a significant minority (43%) favouring company mandated days.
The other aspect of hybrid is how much time is spent working in and out of the office. The survey showed a decline in preference for both being principally in or principally out of the office, with the dominate trend (51% up from 29%), now being an equal split between in-office and remote work.
Workplace strategy continues to evolve
The evolution of workplace strategy is the area showing greatest and most rapid change.
The survey revealed big increases in space needed for collaboration; a review of design standards; improvements in amenities and services; and more open space. From a seating perspective there was a strong preference for more hotdesking and activity based working, with a decline shown in dedicated or assigned seating. An expected rise in the use of flex office space was also identified, which is in part a response to uncertain demand and greater desire for agility.
The overall trend indicates that companies will use their space less intensely and less often. However, this does not mean less space will be needed. Expectations on portfolio size indicate that 54% of those surveyed expected to expand their footprint over the next three years or stay the same.
The office as a concept has survived the challenges posed by the pandemic and remote working, however, what offices will look like and how much time we spend there continues to evolve. What seems increasingly clear is that there will be no one system of office working in the future. A sector by sector (or even company by company) approach is likely to mean highly tailored working environments. This continues to be an area of rapid change and one for occupiers to keep under review.
There is a recognition here that there is a delicate balance to be struck. Imposing a policy from above removes ambiguity and establishes clear ground rules. But how far can it reflect the very wide spectrum of individual preferences and roles?
https://www.cbre.co.uk/insights/reports/emea-office-occupier-sentiment-survey-2022