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<\/a>The result is an exceedingly high level of satisfaction with their current hybrid working arrangement: 90 percent of U.S.-based employees are pleased, as are 98 percent of U.S.-based employers, according to Unispace\u2019s global workplace report, From Restrictions to Resilience<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Albert DePlazaola, global principal of strategy at Unispace, told Commercial Property Executive<\/em> that many employees see a well-designed, flexible office as a place to minimize distractions and complete more work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo enhance the office\u2019s appeal for employees, spaces must foster a sense of employee belonging and identity, reflect organizational values, and allow for flexible start times, according to our research,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly three-quarters of U.S. employees (71 percent) say they would be happier to spend more time in the office if their workplace had spaces that connected them to the organization\u2019s brand, culture and values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, when asked what elements U.S. employees would like to see in their future workplace (i.e., the office in five years), a workplace that fosters belonging and identity remains in the top three responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With access to a tech-enabled workspace that provides advanced collaboration tools and smart features, flexible schedule options such as compressed work weeks remain in the top three responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flexible space providers are growing<\/a>. According to a recent CommercialEdge report, flexible space has increased to 124.8 million square feet in the past year, up from 113.5 million square feet. But almost all that growth follows a trend toward the suburbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Cushman & Wakefield\u2019s Experience per Square Foot research across a group of 9,142 employees, people who work in the office 3-plus days a week are more likely than hybrid and remote employees to come into the office for the sake of boosting productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Larger, flexible workspaces are also trending. A new survey of 500 business leaders<\/a> across major industries in the U.S. and U.K. by WeWork found that most remote, hybrid and fully-in-office companies plan to use flexible workspaces to increase their office space in the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Office work drives profitability, boosts productivity and fosters company culture, reinforcing that the future of workspaces must be flexible to some degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research highlights also included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Signing shorter and more flexible lease terms produces more agile real estate costs, according to the survey, enabling workforce strategies to serve as crucial drivers of productivity and financial performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respondents also said the office has evolved into more than a workspace: \u201cIt\u2019s a place where teams intentionally come together to collaborate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lisa Flicker, senior managing partner & head of real estate at Jackson Lucas, said that the hybrid work schedule offers plenty of perks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFridays have become the go-to day for most executives to work from home,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the past, it seemed like only the most senior leadership reserved Fridays for in-person lunches, golf outings and networking.\u201d According to Flicker, the landscape has shifted post-COVID, and now, flexible Fridays are almost expected across the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s practically an unwritten rule in many circles, offering a perfect blend of productivity and personal time,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alexis Krisay, owner of Serendipit Consulting, said that people crave social interaction, collaboration and the chemical balance that goes along with human interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVirtual meetings and video calls cannot fully replicate the spontaneous conversations and brainstorming sessions that often lead to innovative ideas and problem-solving,\u201d Krisay said. \u201cBeing virtual also tends to mess with human emotions because we lack the observance of non-verbal communication, which plays a significant role in how messages are perceived and affect our feelings. Solely relying on written communication can be daunting,\u201d Krisay added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Krisay, many younger employees have desired to come into the office for true mentorship and guidance. \u201cThese employees missed years of in-person collaboration in college and are craving the endorphins and oxytocin release that face-to-face interactions stimulate,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOxytocin is known as the \u2018bonding hormone.\u2019 Oxytocin is associated with feelings of trust, empathy and social bonding. In-person recognition can amplify these feelings, strengthening the connection between the giver and receiver of recognition and boosting the receiver’s mood and overall well-being,\u201d Krisay said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n READ ALSO<\/strong>: Flex Office Is Becoming Synonymous With Office<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Real estate is a down payment on culture, according to Peter Billmeyer, SIOR, president of SIOR Chicago Chapter, as well as co-founder & CEO of Bespoke Commercial Real Estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He told CPE<\/em> that there have been success stories of companies executing on a fully remote basis, but he does not believe that is the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOver the past 18 months, we have seen increasing productivity loss and revolving doors of talent,\u201d Billmeyer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith the faltering job market, we expect leaders who want their teams back in the office to gain the upper hand. When a leader is forced to make hard choices during a downsizing, if all things are created equal, which employee will they keep? So far, through our observations, the fully remote worker is in very big trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corina Ocanto, Stream Realty Partners vice president of workplace strategy, said that even years after remote work\u2019s rise, it can be difficult for organizations \u201cto reliably predict the actual utilization of space and land on the Goldilocks footprint that is enough but not too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEspecially when CRE rates are high, there is a demand for quality and attendance policies continue to fluctuate, it\u2019s understandable that companies may err on the side of caution and rely on high-quality coworking space for expansions if they come to pass,\u201d she commented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ocanto said bringing employees who have been remote back to an office is always challenging but providing them with a great experience can make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat office space speaks for itself when employees finally give it a chance and tell you their day was made easier by having a coworker a few steps away, running into someone usually out of reach, or remembering that the office can be the best place for their most productive work,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Ocanto, in most transformational projects, employees start skeptical of a new space or return-to-office policies. But with the right investment in quality, activation and location, they feel a purposeful connection to the organization and their peers, which cements longer retention and a more engaged workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFlex office space continues to expand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Flexible Fridays are expected<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a>A way to strengthen employees\u2019 emotions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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