'The realities of bringing this workspace to life continue to perplex and evade savvy and progressive business leaders'
There are some workers who would like to be at the office, but their employers are not delivering on their needs, according to a recent report.
Overall, 43% of Canadians indicate that they prefer working in-office full time or in a hybrid capacity compared to fully remote positions, reports iQ offices.
Despite this, 43% of Canadians don’t enjoy going to their current office.
“While the equation may seem obvious, the realities of bringing this workspace to life continue to perplex and evade even the most savvy and progressive of business leaders,” says Kane Willmott, CEO and Co-Founder of iQ Offices.
Employee engagement needs to be a prime focus for employers, as employee happiness plummeted in the second quarter of 2024, according to data from BambooHR.
How do you motivate employees to come to the office?
Here are some things that can make workers want to go back to the office, according to iQ Offices’ survey of 859 employed Canadians, conducted July 1 to 2, 2024:
- ease of commute (42%)
- comfortable, dynamic workspaces (38%)
- in-person collaboration/socialization (35%)
To maximize the time that workers spend in the office, workers will be more productive if they have:
- the right work environment to do their best work matters most (92%)
- a workplace that matches their work style (85%),
- a work environment customized based on their feedback (80%)
- a best friend at work (58%)
As office-return policies spread, remote employees are feeling stronger pressure to be visible at work, resulting in a new workplace trend dubbed as the "Green Status Effect,” according to a previous BambooHR report.
Creating an attractive and comfortable workspace can help entice workers back to the office, said Masha Liokumovich, corporate wellness expert and founder of Vibrant Yoga, via LinkedIn.
“Simple changes like introducing standing desks or ergonomic chairs not only help employees improve posture but also show that business leaders care about their health and comfort. But remember, it’s more than just the furniture.
“This highlights the need for designing spaces that support both focused work as well as collaborative tasks among team members – think quiet corners with cozy seating arrangements coupled with vibrant collaboration zones equipped with whiteboards and comfy couches.”