Hassell’s 2023 Workplace Futures Survey

Tuesday 11 July 2023

Sky Central by Hassell, Photo by Mark Cocksedge

A new report by international design practice Hassell, The 2023 Workplace Futures Survey reveals companies that have made a change to their offices since the pandemic have a 17% higher satisfaction score among employees than those that haven’t.

In the fourth edition of their annual Workplace Futures Survey, which will be previewed by Hassell Principal and Regional Leader for the UK, Matthew Blain at NLA’s conference ReWork: Retrofitting Offices on Monday July 17, Hassell Senior Researcher Dr. Daniel Davis uncovered valuable insights into the current state of the workplace and what it takes to create the ideal hybrid office. The report interviewed 3,500 office workers across Australia, China, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Netherlands.

In the United Kingdom, the survey showed that more people were working from their organisation's office compared to any point in the pandemic. These changes have been driven by employees choosing to spend more time in the office, indicating that some workplaces are regaining their appeal, particularly well-designed offices that facilitate team communication and individual productivity.

Among the report’s key findings are:

More people are working from the office this year. The number of people working from home full-time is declining and the numbers working from the office is increasing, while hybrid remains stable.

Companies that have made a change to their offices since the pandemic have a 17% higher satisfaction score among employees than those that haven’t.Companies are making a wide range of changes to their offices. There isn’t one universal change that all companies are making. It depends a lot on a company’s management style, growth trajectory and industry.

One of the most desirable office amenities: a vibrant city. People want to work in places connected to great amenities. The most desirable amenities were grocery stores, green spaces, and good coffee.

In a downturn, people might not return to the office. We assumed that in a downturn, employers would have more leverage to get people back to the office. In Hassell’s study, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Human resources departments and real estate need to work more closely together. In many companies, different departments are responsible for workplace policies and workplace design. As workplaces go through major upheavals post-pandemic, Hassell’s research shows that the most effective companies change both things in tandem.

Critically, the report informs a conversation on the value of bringing such findings to light through strategy and design.

For an exclusive preview of the full report, register your interest below.

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