For the 3rd consecutive year, we have surveyed over 100 organisations on the impact of hybrid work on their recruitment, workplace, and real-estate decisions. Despite all the noise in the market, for the overwhelming majority, the new normal is NOW. Return to the office rates have stabilised for 18 months (around 38%) and organisations have started to adjust their office footprint accordingly. The differences between sectors are also becoming very visible and this has an impact on cities and neighbourhoods, depending on their exposure to certain sectors. Whilst reducing their overall footprint, organisations are increasingly looking to expand their presence in core vibrant urban areas that are most able to attract employees.
RTO rates show significant differences between sectors, however very few organisations have been able to increase these over the last year. Average figures remain at 38%, well below the pre-pandemic levels of c. 60%.
Employees come back on average 1.9 days a week whilst they are expected 2.5 and, in some sectors, this discrepancy is even bigger.
Strong consensus on RTO policies on 2 to 3 days, with many sectors having slightly increased their remote allowance (average is now 2.5 days vs. 2.4 days last year). More companies started offering 4, and even 5 days of remote work.
Business sectors showing the lowest return to office rates are equally showing the highest planned space reduction, such as Financial Services or the Technology sectors..
Over half of the respondents are widening their recruitment strategies to new geographies, this is particularly true in the Financial Services sector that shows the largest increase of remote job postings.
24% of respondents are planning to relocate to more central locations against only 3% for decentral.
Expected average lease term has fallen to 4 years with only 10% looking to sign for more than 5 years.
We collected 105 responses from small to large companies, representative of all business sectors, for an estimated 4.7 million employees.
The share of companies that have announced their hybrid policy is now stable since last year
Remote allowance remains stable however trend towards 3-5 days is increasing
Remote working allowance evolution
(days / week).
Average remote working allowance 2023 vs. 2024 (days / week).
Share of companies with a desk-sharing policy.
Shown as number of desk per employee.
Return to office rates are now stable (around 38%). Companies are not forcing employees back.
Percentage of companies that will allow...
There's a clear correlation between the Footprint Reduction planned by employers and the Return-To-Office rates.
Estimated return-to-office rates for 2024
(in %).
Estimated footprint reduction within the next 5 years (in %)
More than half of our respondents are adjusting and expanding their recruitment strategy to new geographies in order to reach new talent pools.
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