Four ways to refresh the office for hybrid working

For many organizations, hybrid working has become the norm. Most companies recognize that the workplace design should evolve to support hybrid work—but hesitate to invest in workplace redesigns in a time of uncertainty. Yet, it is possible to make relatively modest investments today that will create a strong future return in terms of employee productivity, engagement, recruitment and retention.

As JLL’s latest Global Occupancy Planning Benchmarking Report 2024 explores, hybrid work programs continue to drive change in workplace planning and management. Managing fluctuating weekly occupancy patterns, increasing technology requirements and diminished employee experience in a dynamic workplace creates complex demands for CRE teams. 

With occupancy patterns still in flux in many corporate offices, undertaking broad workplace redesigns poses risk: what if the resulting space is too much, too little or in configurations that don’t meet employees’ needs and preferences? No wonder 87% of organizations have adopted hybrid work policies, but only 1% are undertaking workspace design in conjunction with hybrid work practices, according to JLL’s occupancy benchmarking report.

Globally, office attendance has been increasing. Average work-from-the-office days rose to 3.1 days per week in 2023, according to JLL’s Is hybrid really working? research report. JLL’s 2023 Global Pulse Client Survey found that most corporate clients are planning to modify their portfolios in the next three to five years, with 48% planning to decrease and 27% planning to increase. As many organizations reach lease renewal periods, now is the time to maximize value from occupancy and utilization data gathered in recent years and inform workspace investment decisions.

Yet, encouraging employees back to the office while also addressing operational cost reduction and optimizing portfolios goals is creating difficulties for many CRE teams. Nearly 70% of companies have adopted seat-sharing strategies, and 90% plan to implement or increase their use of seat sharing in the future. However, many are grappling with how to redesign and futureproof their offices within their budget constraints.

While no “one-size-fits-all” solution applies for a successful hybrid workplace, successful programs will use occupancy and utilization data, as well as employee surveys and conversations with other stakeholders, to better understand what investments will be most worthwhile. Understanding employee workplace needs and preferences is the key to maximizing the impact of improvements for hybrid workplace.