Poles want remote work, but without exaggeration. Open space offices are a thing of the past
“The latest JLL research shows that 75 percent respondents would like to work from the office a maximum of three days a week. This means that on some days – usually from Tuesday to Thursday – offices are under real siege, while on Mondays and Fridays are empty. This is a logistical challenge that generates the problem of attendance peaks – on some days there are no desks, on other days the space is unused. Interestingly, encouraging attendance through benefits (e.g. shared meals or other company attractions) may exacerbate this problem, as it also condenses attendance into one or two days,” the comment states.
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As stated, the three main reasons why employees do not want to return to the office are the time of commuting to work (this reason was indicated by 59 percent of respondents), commuting costs (43 percent) and problems with booking and availability of the workplace (31 percent).
“We observe that companies, instead of allowing full freedom, They are starting to designate specific days of mandatory attendance for individual teams or entire departments. This approach not only allows you to use the available space more effectively, but also avoids the costly expansion of the office, which would not be fully used throughout the week anyway. Consciously shaping the attendance schedule is becoming a key element of strategic real estate management in a modern organization,” said Jakub Zieliński, senior director, expert in change management and workplace strategy at JLL.
Open space is a thing of the past
The answer – in JLL's opinion – may also be a properly designed space and, for example, the designation of zones that can be quickly adapted to current needs. JLL forecasts indicate that share of the so-called open spaces in office space will decrease.
“This is a direction that fundamentally changes our thinking about offices. JLL forecasts indicate that by 2032, traditional open spaces, which in 2020 accounted for over 50% of the space in newly built offices, will shrink to only 30%. They will be replaced by closed collaboration zones, smaller rooms for individual work and multifunctional spaces, that support creativity and building relationships,” added Zieliński.
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JLL research shows that office users experience increased activity in October – after the holiday season, when there are no significant holidays or long weekends.
“Our observations are consistent with the data of the Warsaw Public Transport Authority – the capital's transport transports the most passengers in October and also in March, although in the case of the latter month – not every year, because it depends on the date of Easter,” said Mateusz Polkowski, senior director, head of the research and consulting department at JLL.
JLL's analyzes show that companies are trying to optimally utilize their office space and, for example, the average office lease agreement in Warsaw has decreased in recent years from 1,200 sq m to less than 1,000 sq m. Moreover, most companies choose to renegotiate the lease agreement instead of looking for a new headquarters. About 50 percent tenants decide to stay in their current location, although a few years ago almost 70 percent companies decided to relocate to a new office.
JLL is a global consulting company operating in the commercial real estate and investment management market.
