New research has revealed that four-fifths (86%) of employees felt they had a better work-life balance when working from home.
A new European study by global workplace creation service Unispace combined the results of a survey of 3,000 office workers, 2,750 employers in leadership roles at organisations, with global senior leaders in real estate, HR and operations interviews.
Two-thirds (64%) of workers are reluctant to return to the office post-Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, with the commute, lack of work-life balance and an ineffective workspace being the main drivers.
Almost eight in 10 (79%) indicated that they were better off financially when working remotely, 27% did not want to commute again, and 80% would be more willing to return if their employer paid for their travel.
In addition, 69% expect to be mainly office-based in the near future, arguably driven by the 84% of mandated workplace returns across Europe, while 69% of 18 to 34-year-olds want either a complete return or a hybrid approach based mainly in the office.
Lawrence Mohiuddine, CEO EMEA at Unispace, commented that while the global pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way people work, it has also changed how employees want to experience the workplace.
He explained that those who have been able to work productively in a remote environment over the past year must see the value in returning to the office, as collaboration with peers is seen a driver for some as well as wanting more than what they can currently access at home, such as free lunch options or better amenities.
“How we change our workplaces now will define not only what the future of the office will look like, but also how engaged our talent pools are with workspaces themselves. And with younger demographics indicating more of a desire to be in the office to learn from peers, the future of workforces themselves is arguably at stake,” he said.