Work

Flexibility seen as benefiting productivity, wellbeing and connectivity

The prominence given to flexibility now goes well beyond job selection decisions. The survey found that where flexibility has been provided, it is associated with more positive sentiment in areas including productivity, wellbeing and connectivity.

Hybrid or remote workers are far more likely than fully office-based workers to report they have experienced greater personal and team productivity. The same applies for wellbeing, as measured by better work-life balance and levels of job satisfaction.

In terms of connectivity, hybrid workers report by far the highest levels of connectedness to their own teams and to the rest of the company, with the survey also revealing that their relationships with colleagues had improved the most.

% who agree with the following statement

Source: CBRE Research, 2022.

The shift to hybrid working has engendered more trust in employees

Approximately half of respondents report a strengthening in their level of trust with their employer compared with prior to the pandemic.

A higher proportion of hybrid and remote worker respondents reported stronger trust with their employer than those who are fully office-based, a trend that was especially prominent in the Americas—in part because workers with a more flexible schedule feel empowered with greater autonomy over how they work, which in turn drives a feeling of greater trust with their employer.

With the shift toward hybrid and remote forms of working having improved trust, finding ways to reinforce this position by retaining or enhancing the real estate and work flexibility available to employees will boost engagement and competitiveness.

Compared with views pre-pandemic, how far do you agree with the following statement: The trust I have in my current employer has strengthened

Source: CBRE Research, 2022.

Easing commute time is key to improving office utilization

Tolerance of long commutes is dropping sharply, with respondents naming it as their second most important job selection factor amid a widespread wish to spend much less time traveling to and from work.

Three-quarters of respondents want a one-way commute time of no more than 30 minutes, but only 57% currently have one. Conversely, the tolerance to commute for more than 30 minutes in the future is much lower than current levels.

The need to reflect lower commuting appetite will be a major determinant of office location decisions. As many respondents, particularly Gen Z and millennials, want to live in centralized areas, CBDs look set to once again be the most sought-after office locations.

Employees’ desire for flexibility is lasting but the office can still attract them

There is clearly a strong desire to continue the shift toward hybrid working, with nearly 40% of respondents currently being office-based all the time but only 20% wanting this to remain the case in the future.

Workers who already have a hybrid pattern want to move further in that direction. At the other extreme, the proportion wanting to be fully home-based in the future remains negligible, meaning that almost all workers want to spend at least some of their working week in the office.

With certain groups—primarily men, baby boomers and workers in Asia-Pacific—displaying a greater desire to be fully office-based, working arrangements will need to be flexible.

Working environment now tops the agenda

The quality of the working environment is more important to people than ever before. Around two-thirds of respondents place a higher value on the quality of the working environment than prior to the pandemic. This figure is even higher for hybrid workers, regardless of how frequently they go to an office.

While fully office-based workers may choose this work option for reasons unrelated to the quality of the office, such as their role or living arrangements, the continuing shift toward hybrid working can strengthen the premium placed on the quality of the working environment.

Challenges for occupiers include understanding their workers’ preferences and ascertaining which aspects of office quality are most important. Under half of respondents say that their own personal preferences are fully aligned with company guidelines, and most of the rest say they are required to be in the office more than they would like. Only 57% feel that their companies have communicated and set expectations clearly. Occupiers will need to understand these preferences across their workforce and ideally allow greater flexibility for teams and individuals to produce their own best solutions.

I attach more importance to the quality of my working environment

Source: CBRE Research, 2022.

Office amenities must improve the employee experience

On the specifics of working environment, there are several categories to choose from. Among internal elements, environmental features such as natural light and better air quality rank highly, along with dedicated space for focused work, and design and aesthetics.

Advanced office technologies such as personalized lighting are also important, along with systems that help in locating colleagues and teammates. Although wellness features are highly valued, as are COVID-19 safety measures, conveniences such as on-site hotel accommodation or day-care facilities are accorded lower priority.

The survey uncovered some variation across different workstyles, with fully office-based workers valuing free food and beverages, and remote workers believing that having their own private offices could entice them into the office occasionally. This level of fine-tuning will require a deep understanding of the proportions, preferences and roles of the entire workforce.

What, specifically, makes a quality office environment?

Source: CBRE Research, 2022.