• Employees have broadly accepted office attendance policies.Belgian employees show strong acceptance of office attendance policies with 72% having structured policies and 63% expressing positive sentiment. However, positive sentiment does not always translate into compliance, as employees expect employers to acknowledge their personal circumstances and meet high expectations regarding office environments.

• The desire for work-life balance is stronger than ever.The desire for work-life balance has intensified in Belgium, with 68% prioritizing it over salary (up from 62% in 2022). Flexibility needs are shifting towards time management over location, with half of office workers wanting flexible hours while hybrid arrangements have reached equilibrium.

• Wellbeing concerns, particularly burnout, pose a persistent threat to organizational outcomes. Wellbeing concerns persist as critical retention factors, with 32% of Belgian employees experiencing burnout and 25% feeling isolated, though 59% report feeling empowered at work.

However, acceptance doesn't guarantee satisfaction with the office experience. While 41% of Belgian employees consider their work environment close to ideal, 59% believe their office experience could be significantly improved. Key improvement areas include outdoor access (41%), acoustics and noise levels (37%), plants and greenery (37%), design (34%), and thermal comfort (28%).

Fit-out, services and amenities can significantly enhance workplace experience

Our global survey reveals that 59% of office workers in Belgium believe their office experience could be enhanced, with the most requested building improvements being outdoor access (41%), better acoustics and noise control (37%), increased plants and greenery (37%), improved design (34%), and enhanced thermal comfort (28%).

On the other hand, the building location also directly influences the occupier’s day-to-day experience. Belgian office workers particularly value comprehensive food services, with 48% prioritizing close-by or on-site food courts, baristas, or chefs offering fresh and healthy meals. Wellbeing and sport services rank second at 37%, followed by free or subsidized travel to the office (33%) and health services (30%). In other words, surrounding and on-site amenities significantly improve the office experience.

The flexibility priorities are shifting from location to time. Hybrid work arrangements are meeting employee expectations in Belgium as there is only one percent difference between employees benefiting from them and those who desire them (30% vs 31%). This shows reasonable alignment between current work conditions and desired work arrangements.

Today the workforce expectations go towards more flexible hours to hence better time management, work life balance and improved commute time (50% desire flexible working hours). Another great improvement linked to time would be a 4-day week (42% would like to adopt this option).

Having successfully addressed location flexibility, Belgian companies are now focusing on temporal arrangements.

Work-life balance

Despite positive policy acceptance, Belgian employees continue to face significant wellbeing challenges. Nearly one-third (32%) report experiencing burnout, while a quarter (25%) feel isolated at work—both figures notably lower than the global averages of 39% and 38% respectively. However, there is encouraging news: 59% of Belgian employees feel empowered at work (supported and encourage to take initiative by their managers), suggesting that organizations in Belgium are performing better than the global average (35%) in creating supportive workplace environments.

Lower turnover risk

Belgium shows relatively lower turnover intentions, with 15% of employees considering leaving within 12 months compared to nearly 24% globally. However, 54% of Belgian workers don't consider their company a great place to work, indicating substantial room for improvement in employee experience.

The primary reasons Belgian employees consider leaving include better salary (39%), limited career development (25%), more flexibility (24%), and reduced commute time (22%).