Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Companies across the Americas are steadily closing the gap between expected and actual office attendance, according to CBRE’s 2025 Office Occupier Sentiment Survey. With hybrid work now a norm, firms are refining portfolio strategies, enforcing attendance policies, and reshaping workplaces to align with changing employee behaviors.
Attendance Goals Within Reach, But Not Uniformly
Office attendance is trending upward. This year, 72% of surveyed companies report meeting attendance goals, which is up from 61% in 2024. Employers expect workers in the office 3.2 days a week on average, and employees are now showing up around 2.9 days — narrowing the expectation gap.Â
Yet challenges persist, especially for larger firms. Companies with more than 10,000 employees still see the widest discrepancies between policy and behavior.
Enforcement and Measurement Grow
To drive consistency, 85% of organizations now have formal attendance policies, and nearly 70% are measuring compliance — up sharply from 45% last year. More than one-third are enforcing policies, double the rate from 2024. Notably, smaller firms are leading in both enforcement and attendance alignment.
Hybrid Realities Disrupt Culture
Despite progress, hybrid work is introducing new hurdles. Office utilization often spikes mid-week, while non-peak days feel sparse. While 73% of organizations say space is at capacity on peak days, only 34% report the same on average. This uneven usage is impacting culture, collaboration, and space planning.
Unassigned Seating and Flex Space Gain Ground
Workplace design is evolving. Assigned seating is on the decline: just 25% of companies still use it exclusively, down from 40% last year. Instead, flexible, unassigned setups are now standard for 75% of firms.Â
This is also reflected in rising employee-to-desk ratios, with 73% of organizations expecting more than 1.5 employees per desk by 2027.
Flexible office space is also gaining traction. Although still a small share of most portfolios, both small and large companies plan to expand their use of flex options over the next two years, driven by a need for agility, employee experience, and cost management.
Portfolio Strategies Vary by Size and Intent
While 67% of companies plan to maintain or expand their office space (up from 64% last year) strategies vary. Smaller companies are the most bullish, with 96% planning to hold or grow their footprint.Â
In contrast, 60% of large companies anticipate downsizing, often citing cost, inefficiencies, and hybrid work dynamics.
Across the board, tenant motivations fall into three categories:
- Experience-driven (prioritizing employee amenities and quality spaces)
- Operations-driven (focusing on consolidation and workflow efficiency)
- Cost-driven (minimizing expenses through renewals or rightsizing)
Leasing Behavior Changes as Amenities Take Center Stage
Most companies still prefer to renew their leases, but relocations are increasingly driven by a desire for better amenities, improved locations, and more flexible lease terms.Â
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Building quality matters more than ever: nearly half of occupiers are concerned about the availability of desirable space in the next three years — despite record vacancy rates.
Access to transit and parking remain non-negotiable for many tenants. Features that enhance employee experience, such as outdoor areas, fitness facilities, and sustainable building operations, are now key differentiators in lease negotiations.
Looking Ahead
CBRE’s findings signal a new phase in the evolution of office occupancy: one that balances structure with flexibility, and policies with experience. For companies and investors alike, understanding new behavior patterns and adapting real estate strategies accordingly will be crucial to staying competitive in a hybrid-first future.
