In many organizations, the exact strategy of return-to-work is a work in progress. At first, many employees were happy to be back. But as hybrid work has taken root, and some employees are pushing back on mandated in-the-office days, or a minimum number of days in the office, now it’s incumbent on facility managers to create office space that’s inviting, and offers something occupants can’t get or experience by staying at home to work.
A new study from the Building Owners and Managers Association, though, shows that in most cases, employees and management are on the same page in terms of return-to-work rules. The "2022 BOMA International COVID-19 Commercial Real Estate Impact Study” reports that more than six in 10 people who were surveyed from each group – employees and management – report they want to be back in the office three or four days per week.
The survey of more than 1,200 “office-space decision-makers and high-level influencers” showed that 86 percent of respondents said their in-person office is vital to their business.
Of interest for building owners, 72 percent of respondents said they’d renew their lease if it expired today. That’s up from 38 percent in the same survey in 2021. But also, 70 percent of respondents said they’ll reassess their space needs, up from 55 percent last year.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
