FM newsroom – office report. A new survey reveals that European employers want workers back in the office—but most employees aren’t following suit. Despite stricter policies, hybrid work remains the norm, and companies continue to rethink how to make offices worth the commute.
According to CBRE’s latest workplace survey, more than half of European companies (54%) expect employees to spend at least three days a week in the office. Yet only 42% actually meet that target. The study, covering 117 firms across Europe, shows that financial services face the biggest gap: 61% demand frequent attendance, but only 32% of workers comply.
To bridge the divide, businesses are shifting focus from mandates to motivation
Nearly half (47%) of the businesses partaking in the survey plan to boost attendance through more engaging and collaborative environments, up from 31% last year.
„We’re encountering a paradox – people don’t want to come to half-empty offices, but their absence creates the emptiness they’re avoiding,” Simon Orr, Head of Tenant Representation at CBRE explains to Property Forum.
Flexible Spaces, Shared Desks, and Busier Peak Days
Office utilisation across Europe averages 46% weekly, peaking at 71% midweek. The tech, media, and telecommunications sectors saw noticeable growth in attendance, as large companies scaled back remote work flexibility.
By 2027, flexible office spaces are expected to comprise nearly a third of corporate portfolios—29%, representing an eight percentage point increase from today.
“Companies are transitioning to more flexible arrangements where more employees share fewer workstations. The traditional ‘one person per desk’ model is rapidly disappearing,” says Helena Hemrova, Head of Office Leasing at CBRE Czech Republic.
She notes that 88% of companies now track workspace effectiveness, up from 60% a year ago.