The study, which surveyed 3,300 office workers across ten countries, showed that 79 percent of the workforce aspire to be back in the office at least once a week, up from 74 percent last October, highlighting the declining appetite to work solely from home as homeworking fatigue sets in. Thirty-seven percent feel more productive at home, down from 48 percent last April. However, 63 percent of workers do not want to be office-bound, showing preference for a hybrid style of working from both home and the office or third-party locations such as coworking lounges and coffee shops.
While the disruption in workflow due to Covid-19 has had a negative impact on business over past year, it has also paved the way for innovative working solutions and new ways of achieving a good work-life balance – a top priority for Millennials and Gen Z. Emma Luyt, co-CEO of JLL sub-Sahara Africa and MD of Tétris Design & Build, is excited by the opportunity for strategic workplace design and bespoke office fit-outs as a means to refresh and re-engage with returning staff and believes the innovation it demands will bring enormous future value to the office sector.
Key insights from the research:
Luyt says that business leaders need to get back into the office to protect and grow their business culture and nurture younger teams who require office infrastructure and connection to perform, but a rethink of corporate workspaces is necessary if business owners want to get employees back and working productively. “Company owners are looking for workspace solutions that can foster inclusivity and co-working while providing quiet spaces for thinking and doing,” she says. Undeniably, putting employees first is key to creating experiential workspaces that improve performance, retain current staff and are effective in attracting future talent. “Aesthetics will become more important in the future office. It is crucial that the post-pandemic office is attractive, comfortable and visually interesting.” The office will become the primary place of work again, according to Luyt but only on condition that the experience meets the new demands of the workforce. “The months to come will see a ‘flight to quality’, with top employers acknowledging the new workforce expectations through an in-depth rethinking of their approach to work, the workforce and the workplace.”
