The working world is shifting fast. And today’s employees are growing increasingly aware of the gap between where they’re expected to be—and how well that space supports their work.
This whitepaper explores how organisations can move beyond return-to-office (RTO) mandates to design workplace experiences that feel purposeful, supportive, and worth the commute. Using market data and a survey of over 500 full-time office workers across the U.K., U.S., and Ireland, it highlights what people value most from on-site work—and where current approaches fall short.
For leaders navigating RTO pressures, generational change, and evolving real estate dynamics, this research offers a practical roadmap to building workplaces employees actively choose.
Key takeaways
- Hybrid is here to stay, but the workplace hasn’t caught up
Employees value flexibility, yet many offices are still out of step with how people actually work, creating friction in collaboration and culture.
- Mandates without culture is a losing strategy
The experience gap is real and measurable. Most workers say office culture matters, but far fewer describe their current culture as truly positive.
- Amenities and access are core to the experience
Convenient parking, bookable meeting rooms, communal spaces, and reliable technology rank as top priorities—and it is awareness and everyday usage, not availability alone, that drives satisfaction.
- Digital ease works best with human support
Employees want seamless digital access to workplace services, and many also value a recognisable facilities professional they can talk to when they need help.
- Commutes and workspace ownership shape engagement
Long commutes and hot desking correlate with lower office satisfaction, weaker culture ratings, and diminished enjoyment of in-person work.
- Future workplaces align people, place, and purpose
Data-driven space planning, hospitality-led service delivery, and a clear purpose for time on-site help turn presence into performance.
Ready to reimagine your workplace?
If you are reassessing your RTO strategy, evaluating your estate portfolio, or seeking to strengthen culture through experience-led operations, speak with an expert to see how our team can help.
