Long Commutes Are No Longer Viable For Workers

While there have been numerous trends to emerge as a result of the pandemic, among the most popular driving recent business decisions has been improving the employee experience. 

According to Fatima Koning, Group Chief Commercial Officer at IWG, companies are increasingly taking a people-centric approach, particularly as they embrace hybrid work arrangements. 

“The employee’s voice has become prominent in defining what the office should be in the future – what the purpose of the office is, what facilities it should and shouldn’t have, and its location,” said Koning. 

Koning added that part of this shift includes changing attitudes about the daily commute. For many employees, the idea of returning to commuting five days a week seems unreasonable and they would rather have a workspace closer to their homes. 

Not only are employees expressing the desire to have offices within a short walk or drive, but workers are also considering leaving their jobs if they are not provided with this type of flexibility.  

That’s why more companies seem to be adopting hybrid work policies, which is also forcing them to reevaluate their real estate portfolio to incorporate flexible offices and coworking spaces in suburbs and towns. 

“There are people for whom a home office is a luxury they cannot afford to have,” said Koning. “So getting the right infrastructure in place for them to have the option to work close to home – as well as to work from home – is actually what they’re asking for.”