Lack of space continues to hold back a ‘return to office’

Workers are resisting the so-called return to office due to a lack of desk space, following widespread reductions by companies in the wake of Covid. A fifth of workers cited a shortage of desks and facilities among their top three reasons for avoiding the office, according to a survey by real estate consultancy Remit Consulting. The firm claims that businesses may have scaled back desk numbers too aggressively after the pandemic spurred a rise in home working.

The findings come as numerous companies, including Aviva and HSBC, have reduced their office footprints to cut costs. HSBC, for instance, is set to vacate its Canary Wharf skyscraper in favour of a smaller location near St Paul’s Cathedral.

Elijah Lewis of Remit remarked that the issue “clearly merits further investigation,” adding: “If this trend continues, it may indicate that the shift towards prioritising meeting and breakout spaces over individual desks has been overdone.”

Mr Lewis explained that the survey began tracking concerns about desk shortages for the first time in November after property managers highlighted it as an increasingly significant issue.

This challenge mirrors one faced by Amazon in the United States. The retail giant, which has strongly advocated for a return-to-office policy, recently had to pause its plans for thousands of staff upon realising it lacked sufficient workspace to accommodate five-day office weeks. Employees in at least seven cities, including Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix, have had their return dates postponed by up to four months, according to Bloomberg.

The survey found that lengthy commutes topped the list of reasons workers avoid returning to the office, with noise and distractions also cited as significant deterrents.

Despite these concerns, the UK’s office occupancy rate in November reached its highest monthly average in over three years, exceeding 35% for the first time since May 2021, when the survey began after the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Lorna Landells of Remit noted: “Heightened attention on return-to-office mandates may have contributed to this sustained rise in attendance, suggesting employees are adjusting to expectations for in-person collaboration.

“While this trend may ease the implementation of stricter attendance policies, organisations prioritising collaborative and networking opportunities in their offices are likely to have greater success in attracting and retaining talent in this hybrid working era.”

Fewer people than before reported that they would consider leaving their jobs if required to return to the office full-time, reflecting a shift in attitudes compared to a year ago. Remit suggested this is due to workers becoming more accustomed to frequent office attendance and a tighter job market making career moves more challenging.

Most office workers identified face-to-face meetings and team-building as key incentives for coming into the workplace. A rise in external visitors to offices this autumn also points to increased in-person meetings with clients and business partners.

However, overall satisfaction with workplaces remains low. On a scale of one to six—where one indicates the highest satisfaction—many workers rated their offices no better than ‘4’.

In September, research by Centre for Cities revealed that London workers are returning to the office more slowly than their counterparts in Paris and New York. While the average London employer mandates 3.1 office days per week, this falls behind Sydney’s four days and trails behind cities like Singapore, New York, and Toronto.

Ms Landells concluded: “The modern office is evolving into a hub for collaboration and engagement rather than a space for routine tasks that can easily be performed remotely. Organisations that embrace this shift are likely to gain a competitive edge in the post-pandemic workplace.”