Flexible office operator Orega’s new survey supports what many have surmised about the post-pandemic era: work patterns have totally evolved.
This shift is so prominent, that UK business leaders and office workers agree that flexibility is a necessity moving forward. In fact, 64% of businesses agreed that they want the ability to upsize or downsize their offices as needed.
Sixty-three percent of businesses also said they would cut down their office footprint by 20% to 50%, while just 8% planned to seek larger spaces.
Among businesses that plan to reduce their office takeup, nearly half (48%) are reevaluating traditional office leases and want to opt for flexibility while deciding their next move.
Workers are keen on the idea of more flex space too, with 42% of respondents stating they would prefer to work in an office near their home rather than solely working from home.
However, this desire also comes with the need for more privacy. In the past, flexible office and coworking spaces mostly leaned on open office concepts with rows of desks for members to choose from.
Now, 69% want a quiet space to concentrate and 62% require privacy in order to do so. Other factors that were ranked as highly important in office quality included clean air, natural light and controllable temperature.
Demand for these office perks far outweighed other amenities that are commonly seen across flex spaces, such as coffee services and gyms.
