New JLL Research Shows Widespread Variations In Return To Office Across Europe
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Belgium ranks highest in office working days with the UK further down the rankings
Belgium ranks highest in office working days with the UK further down the rankingsAs return‑to‑office (RTO) mandates take hold, research from JLL compares the expected number of days in the office with current practice today.
New data from JLL’s ‘Is hybrid really working?’ report reveals that the majority of international organizations (87%) are encouraging its employees to work from the office at least some of the time. In fact, only 20% of employees work fully remote or one‑two days in the office today, down from 39% a year ago.
However, the data demonstrates varying approaches to RTO across Europe, with France and Belgium leading, spending an average of 3.5 days working from the office. Germany, Netherlands, Spain and the UK are however lagging behind with an average of 2.5 days working from the office.
Flore Pradère, Research Director, Global Work Dynamics Research, JLL, commented: “While return to office rates vary by region and geography, office attendance is starting to hit an equilibrium in terms of existing days in the office and employee expectations, with a third of organisations across the globe now making attendance compulsory on particular weekdays. Working patterns are more established and employers and employees know where they stand – flexibility for both parties remains key.
“It’s clear that the office still plays an important role for employers – it is critical to influencing corporate culture, encouraging engagement and collaboration, and supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce. There’s more certainty as employers take stock of where they are and start to plan for the future on a more solid foundation.”
Workplace Transformation Underway
While some companies are looking for ‘less space, better space’, JLL’s data reveals that 18% have not changed their real estate portfolios and 22% have actually increased their footprint. In H1 2023, 79% of employees globally were in the office more than three days a week, which compares to 51% in H1 2022, showing workstyles are evolving with more of us working for more days in the office.
Workers continue to find value in the physical office as a hub for socialization, innovation, and professional growth, but report that commuting, noise, and lack of privacy are the top barriers to working from the office.
The ambition to create flexible, amenity rich, collaborative spaces is driving employers to transform their workplace. According to JLL, 42% of office space globally has already been adapted to meet the changing needs of employees. And 69% of organizations are implementing shared workstations in an attempt to make a better use of their office space by supporting a wider diversity of needs.
Hannah Dwyer, Head of Research & Strategy, Work Dynamics EMEA, said: “The office forms a fundamental part of work today. The focus is now on delivering people‑first, human‑centric, fit‑for‑purpose office spaces that meet the changing needs of the workforce. Fierce competition for talent continues, so organisations that put their people first are set to benefit, not only with increased office attendance, but with better staff engagement, retention and productivity. Firms should work in partnership with employees to find something that suits both workforce preferences and longer‑term business objectives. Companies that do, will ultimately be rewarded.”
