Despite a surge in businesses adopting hybrid working models, a recent study conducted by Crown Workspace has unveiled that nearly half (46%) of hybrid workers feel their office or workspace is ill-suited for such arrangements and requires modernisation.
The research, encompassing 2,000 hybrid working adults in the UK, also shed light on the desires of employees regarding changes in the workspace to support hybrid working.
Notably, 21 percent expressed the need for better hardware and IT infrastructure, while 18 percent wished for a pet-friendly office, and 15 percent desired more plants or flowers in the building as incentives to return to the office.
Moreover, the study indicated that 21 percent of respondents were not consulted regarding their preferences for the office workspace.
Interestingly, over 40 percent of hybrid workers revealed that the allure of free food and drink would motivate them to return, and 27 percent expressed motivation through social events with colleagues.
The survey also found that 52 percent of hybrid workers advocated for the elimination of the traditional 9-5 working days, favouring a more flexible choice of hours.
Jacqueline Bird, Head of Workplace Consultancy at Crown Workspace, emphasised the need for businesses to adapt to the evolving needs of their teams. She commented, “This is the perfect opportunity for businesses to examine what their employees really want and need and how they can ensure their offices are fit for the future.”
Kate Palmer, HR Advice and Consultancy Director at Peninsula, echoed the sentiment, emphasising the importance of creating a positive working environment. She stated, “With the labour market being tighter and more competitive than ever before, recruitment and retention are high on most employers’ agenda.”
Crown Workspace, known for its global expertise in office and workspace change projects, offers bespoke solutions for commercial and specialist relocations, IT services, furniture, interiors, and storage. The research underscores the significance of businesses aligning their offices with the changing dynamics of the workforce to ensure employee engagement and future growth.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
