A brand new report from AWA claims that workplace attendance and desk use proceed to go up, though the supply of workstations has been lowered as a part of an general rationalisation of company actual property. The report additionally means that this may occasionally have reached its optimum level proper now as simply 13 % of UK organisations are contemplating additional downsizing, suggesting that the majority companies suppose they could have lowered their actual property so far as they will.
UK places of work present simply 56 desks per 100 workers on common in line with the newest Hybrid Working Index from office administration consultancy AWA. The examine, undertaken in the course of the second quarter of 2024, comprising 34 places of work, 14 organisations and a complete inhabitants of 39,433 within the UK, discovered that organisations have shrunk their desk provision for the reason that first index was printed in July 2022, when the ratio was 79 desks per 100 workers.
This lower in desk provision means that organisations are absolutely dedicated to hybrid working however should now work more durable to each maximise workplace use and optimise the area they’ve. AWA’s fourth Hybrid Working Index revealed that UK employees are actually going into the workplace 1.65 days per week on common, up marginally from 1.5 days in July 2022, whereas desk utilization has seen a extra vital improve from 33 per cent to 49 per cent. Each attendance and desk utilization are highest on Tuesdays.
The rise in workplace attendance and discount in workplace area might additionally clarify AWA’s discovery that organisations might have lowered their actual property footprint so far as they will post-pandemic. Simply 13 per cent are nonetheless contemplating downsizing on area, in contrast with 37 per cent when respondents have been requested the identical query within the earlier index, printed in August 2023.
Regardless of many current tales within the media of enormous organisations, akin to Amazon and McKinsey, demanding their workers spend extra time within the workplace, AWA’s analysis has discovered that in-office mandates have decreased. The findings revealed that 18 per cent of UK organisations are actually mandating in-office days, a lower from the primary index, when 49 per cent have been mandating at the very least in the future within the workplace for workers.
Andrew Mawson, AWA founder, stated: “Our fourth hybrid index has proven that the majority organisations have absolutely purchased into hybrid working and versatile working methods that maximise using the workplace area they’ve left. Now, the stress is on property and services administration professionals to make sure they supply places of work the place workers cannot solely discover the room and facilities to do their work but additionally thrive in environments that cater to their wants, assist their wellbeing, and produce the most effective model of themselves.”
The principle findings from AWA’s fourth Hybrid Working Index embrace:
- Common weekly attendance in UK places of work has risen solely barely for the reason that first index, from 29 % to 33 %. Desk utilization, alternatively, has elevated from 33 % to 49 %
- As workplace attendance has barely risen, the rationale for the rise in desk utilization is prone to be a discount in desk provision. The common UK workplace now affords 56 desks per 100 individuals, in contrast with 79 desks per 100 individuals in July 2022.
- Attendance and desk utilization are highest on Tuesdays (43 %), in contrast with 28 % on Mondays, 39 % on Wednesdays, 38 % on Thursdays, and 18 % on Fridays
- Simply 13 % of UK organisations are nonetheless contemplating downsizing their workplace area, signalling that the post-pandemic rush to scale back actual property might have stabilised
- Solely 18 % of UK organisations are mandating in-office days, a 22-percentage level drop for the reason that first Hybrid Working Index in July 2022. The preferred answer isn’t any coverage in any respect (65 %), adopted by ‘resolve by crew’ (18 %), and mandates of at the very least one in-office day (18 %)
Mawson stated: “Workplace attendance might have climbed barely however it’s nonetheless considerably decrease when in comparison with historic ranges. Our information exhibits that organisations might have lowered their actual property so far as they will. Now sensible, progressive leaders must optimise their areas, maximise workplace utilisation, encourage larger social cohesion and belief, and increase organisational efficiency.”