Dive Brief:
- Employees seek physical workplaces that support learning and well-being, with nearly half of respondents to a recent survey by architectural firm Gensler stating that physical and mental wellness amenities were their most-desired workplace feature.
- Gensler’s survey of more than 16,000 full-time office workers across 16 countries also found that respondents were more likely to view workplaces as effective for learning if they are designed to support focused work and rest. Manageable noise levels, flexible furniture layouts and up-to-date technology also ranked highly.
- At the same time, 40% of survey-takers cited dedicated spaces for reflection and quiet work as well as for training and coaching as desirable. Forty-three percent said physical workplaces should contain outdoor areas or views of nature.
Dive Insight:
Much of the past two years in the HR space centered on employee resistance to return-to-office policies, with workers largely resistant to giving up remote work gains made thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are signs that this tension is easing, however, with a January MyPerfectResume poll finding that just 7% of worker respondents would quit their jobs over mandatory RTO.
Analysts have said the shift is driven in part by a tight job market. Glassdoor said in late 2025 that the power balance between employees and employers had shifted significantly that year, signified by a rolling series of layoffs at large firms. The firm also found that companies had begun to approach RTO via more subtle talent management decisions, such as prioritizing employees for promotions based on their in-office attendance.
Employers seeking greater office attendance might need to ensure their spaces are built to support the flexibility workers demand, both in terms of work location and working hours, corporate real estate firm JLL said in a December report.
In some respects, office design demands have changed little from what workers desired before the pandemic. A 2019 Capitol One report found that flexible work schedules, access to natural light and quiet spaces were among the most important office design elements to full-time office professionals. Similarly, outdoor spaces and natural light “signal a future workplace that supports both performance and personal wellbeing,” Gensler wrote in its report.
Beyond design choices, employers also can reduce friction around office use by making things like badge access simple and streamlined, sources previously told HR Dive. There is also the matter of ensuring that leaders and managers set the tone by adhering to in-office policies themselves and utilizing the in-person time afforded by offices wisely.