Marvin OnumonuEmployees want calm, comfort and customisation at work, but most offices are still missing the mark, research from Unispace found.
Three-quarters (75%) of employees said noise and distractions held back their performance.
One in four (25%) said their workplace was not comfortable, while just 21% felt their space did not support their role.
Rob Frank, CEO at EMEA, said: “The office is no longer in crisis; it’s in progress. We’ve gone from reluctance to rhythm, and the focus now is on getting back to basics.
“The message is consistent across Europe: give people calm, comfortable, customised spaces, and they will deliver.”
80% of employees said there were more distractions in the office than when working from home.
Nearly half (48%) said a desk or personal workspace was the most important area, but also the most underperforming.
In 2025, staff spent an average of 2.9 days in the office, 1 day at home, and 1.1 days in other spaces like co-working hubs or cafés.
By 2030, this is expected to drop to 2.6 days in the office.
Despite fewer office days, 93% of employees said the office would still be needed.
The main reasons were collaboration, teamwork and innovation, as well as visibility with leadership and access to tools.
Frank added: “If the workplace isn’t working, your people aren’t reaching their full potential and productivity is at risk.
“The fundamentals matter more than ever, and employers that listen now will be the ones that thrive in 2030.”
The report found that organisations risked falling behind if they did not make the basics a priority.
Employers were encouraged to see the office as a strategic asset, invest in calm, comfort and customisation, and design spaces that worked for artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tasks, neurodiversity and local market needs.
