After four years of a pandemic-induced disruption it is now clear that although hybrid working is not the dominant pattern, it is here to stay. New research from global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield has found that 27% of Polish people combine in-office attendance with home office, whereas that figure for cities with a population of over 500,000 stands at 36%. Meanwhile, employers and property managers keep looking for ways to incentivise employees to come to the office more frequently. Employees working hybrid schedules value the office particularly for well-equipped spaces for focused work and for fostering collaboration and relationship building, reveals the report Office or Home? What Attracts Polish Workers to the Office? from Cushman & Wakefield. At the same time, 47% of respondents are against being mandated to work a fixed number of in-office days.
Market data confirms that there are many who split working time between an office and home, particularly in the largest Polish cities. Many employers allow such protocols, but from the point of view of organisation and corporate culture building they would prefer to see higher in-office attendance levels. That’s why we sought to find out straight from the horse’s mouth what actually attracted those working hybrid to the office. Being able to meet more coworkers face-to-face was cited by 44% of the survey respondents. Logistics was also very important, with ample parking spaces and the office location near a public transport stop being key to 45% and 28% respectively,
says Ewa Derlatka-Chilewicz, Head of Research, Cushman & Wakefield.
The advantages of the office: more socializing and a comfortable work environment
Only some of us have the right conditions at home that foster productivity and wellbeing during work. No wonder one in three employees say that the office can offer invaluable support when they need space for heads-down work – for example, during a home renovation or other temporarily challenging living conditions,
adds Ewa Derlatka-Chilewicz.
Our research findings on the importance of commutes, parking spaces and office uses to office workers are extremely valuable to companies that are about to decide whether to remain in their current office or to move. This is especially the case since not all employers are ready to craft workplace strategies that would take account of the analysis of employees’ needs and opinions. In such a situation, when it comes to choosing assessment categories for a new location, it is worth remembering that the advantages of the office according to Cushman & Wakefield’s respondents include access to a diverse range of F&B options (24%) and purified and filtered air in the building (24%),
explains Mariola Bitner, Head of Workplace Strategy, Cushman & Wakefield.
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In 2023, the firm reported revenue of $9.5 billion across its core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. It also receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), sustainability and more. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.