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A new Microsoft study (opens in new tab) has found that the majority of workers are “stuck in pre-pandemic office spaces,” making it nearly impossible to work well together.
The company’s research found that 83% of UK workers worked in the same environment as before the pandemic, with employers resisting change despite adopting a hybrid employment policy.
The results highlight some of the key benefits of going to the office, according to the participants, including being able to socialize with colleagues and strengthen relationships, but nearly three-quarters say they just “do emails” when going to the physical. workplace.
Collaborating offices for 2022 and beyond
Microsoft UK Surface Business Group Lead, Alan Slothower, says “employees clearly need more temptation to go back to the office than an employer mandate.” He asks companies the question: “Are our offices suitable for the current workforce and do they really want to come back?”
Some of the factors that keep employees from returning to the office include the fact that they can accomplish less than when they work remotely, the cost and duration of their commute, and that they can spend less time with loved ones, who may also work from home. House.
Some of the drivers for making a formal office environment more attractive include a strong internet connection, flexible working hours, good transport links and good temperature-controlled air-conditioning, which could become more important as Britain faces a winter of uncertainty regarding energy prices and possible blackouts.
In addition, the concept of an ‘office’ has changed in recent years, with 81% of employees surveyed viewing their work device (such as a laptop) as their own personal office space. Taking advantage of this by enhancing the experience with better collaboration software could be one way to increase employee productivity both at home and in a dedicated workplace.
Going forward, Microsoft offers three action points to help companies improve their work environment: “make employee needs at the heart of business strategy”, “accept and address the hybrid paradox” by valuing both flexibility and human interaction, and “consider devices as a productivity powerhouse”.