Ryan FowlerA survey by BW: Workplace Experts of 2,000 UK office workers reveals a preference for an average of 2.25 days in the office per week, underscoring a trend towards hybrid working. However, a concern for one in three respondents is the lack of privacy in their office settings, indicating a conflict between the desire for collaborative spaces and the need for personal space.
The survey findings show that employer expectations are in close alignment with these preferences, setting an average in-office requirement at 2.43 days. Despite this alignment, 24% of employees are still expected to work from the office full-time, suggesting a disparity in workplace policies. Larger companies, particularly, see a higher inclination towards remote work, with 12% of employees in such organizations preferring minimal to no office attendance.
More than half of the respondents spend the majority of their time in the office at their desks, while a smaller fraction engage in activities like discussions, meetings, collaborative work, or brainstorming sessions. This distribution raises questions about the current use of office space and whether it adequately supports the needs of today’s workforce.
Steve Elliott, CEO at BW: Workplace Experts, said: “The survey highlights the need for office design reconsideration to balance privacy with open-plan benefits. The significant shift towards remote work during the pandemic has influenced workforce expectations. A lack of private and independent working areas in offices could alienate teams.”
Elliott advocates for a reassessment of office layouts to support diverse working styles and preferences more effectively. Additionally, the survey points to factors such as commuting costs and office amenities, including free snacks and beverages, as influential in decisions to return to the office. These insights offer valuable guidance for companies looking to navigate the evolving expectations of the UK workforce in the post-pandemic landscape.
