Guest blog: a return to the office?

With hybrid working now a staple for many, the question arises: are employees eager to return, or has remote working become the new norm? This guest blog from our friends at Solved in the Netherlands explores the reality of office occupancy in the post-summer holiday period, the challenges of managing empty workspaces and how businesses can adapt to a changing office culture. 

“Now that the holidays are over, people might be eager to return to the office...” is that really the case? What if it doesn’t happen? And how much of an issue is an empty office? Let’s look at it from a different angle: 

Since the introduction of hybrid working, people have quickly become accustomed to working from home. In fact, it’s sometimes viewed as an acquired right. Employers, with much creativity, try to entice staff back into the office with extended lunches, learning sessions, team-building days and more. However, the reality is that occupancy levels haven’t fully bounced back to what they were pre-pandemic, with certain midweek days (such as Tuesday and Thursday) now forming the core of the hybrid week. 

Office costs 

In simple terms, the cost to an employer remains the same whether the office is empty or not, as rent and associated expenses are still being paid. Naturally, this isn’t the most sustainable approach. 

The most obvious solutions are already being implemented: reducing office space by handing it back to the landlord and/or closing floors on ‘ghost days’. By doing the latter, you not only save on energy and cleaning costs but also promote collaboration by physically bringing people together (more on that later). 

Our research shows that a balance is emerging when it comes to office use. On average, employees come into HQ two to three days per week – with a strong preference for the well-known ‘Tuesday to/and Thursday’ pattern. We are increasingly advising clients to accept this as a permanent shift in employee behaviour. Evenly distributing office attendance throughout the week remains a distant goal for now, despite efforts to change it. 

(Co)working 

While cost savings are important, they’re often not the top priority for your employees, unless it directly affects them, such as commuter or sustenance fees. They come to the office to collaborate, communicate and sometimes to simply get their ‘heads down’ away from the distraction of home. Each of these reasons require a different type of workspace. If you decide to reduce your office's square footage, ensure employees have the resources they need to work effectively on the days they’re in. An overcrowded office can also be counterproductive and detrimental to well-being. 

It’s worth exploring the possibility of closing floors on quieter days and perhaps even shutting the entire office on Fridays. You can test this without risk, and it will provide insight into how employees react. 

Discovery journey 

Ultimately, still in semi-infancy, hybrid working is a journey of discovery for both employers and employees. Where is the optimal balance? How are competitors managing it? What can we expect from each other? Earlier this year, we took a closer look at ‘navigating the complexities of office fit-out projects’ - download your free copy today.