A JLL survey from April of last year found that people wanted to work from home at least two days each week. However, when asked the same question in March of 2021, more respondents said they would prefer to work 1.5 days from home.
This trend indicates that remote working fatigue may be setting in for many. While 48% of respondents said they were more productive at home than in the office last year, that number fell to 37% this year.
However, 88% still said they would prefer to choose their hours, and 80% stated they would prefer a hybrid work arrangement in the future.
The sentiment among employees has clearly shifted as companies prepare to bring some workers back into the office. JLL suggests that schedules should still be agile, but in-person environments need to focus on collaboration, brainstorming and an innovative atmosphere that sparks creativity.
On the other hand, some employees will want a quieter space for focused work. That is why companies will need to receive feedback from their staff in order to accommodate varying needs.
“While the notion of hybrid work is great in theory, putting it into practice is no small task,” said Cynthia Kantor, chief product officer of corporate solutions at JLL. “But the companies that can keep employees engaged and committed are going to win the war for talent.”
