Are we near to the end of 100% remote work? Why do many of the companies and workers want to return to the offices
- 27 April 2021
- Business Center
After little more than a year of teleworking due to the pandemic, it seems that most companies are already missing face-to-face work and are starting to plan a gradual return to the office. Will we have to say goodbye to remote work? What factors have motivated this imminent return to the workplace?
Over the last few months, many companies have adapted to flexible working arrangements that combine remote and face-to-face working among their employees, while others have opted to continue to maintain teleworking as at the beginning of the pandemic. It is clear that each company will make its own decision, but as a return to normality becomes ever closer, the general trend is that there will be a gradual return to the workplace due to the limitations of teleworking.
Why have so many companies decided that it is time to go back to the office?
Among the reasons behind this massive return to workspaces, most of them answer to productive and emotional needs, which have a direct impact on employee performance. The return to face-to-face work, according to experts, not only has indisputable benefits in terms of productivity, but also contributes to improving communication, learning and the emotional health of employees.
The impact of teleworking on the well-being of workers has motivated LinkedIn to carry out an interesting study in Spain. One of the emotional aspects most affected by telecommuting is the feeling of loneliness in the absence of contact with colleagues, the self-imposed pressure that workers impose on themselves to answer emails or calls faster than they would in the office, and voluntarily extending the working day, among others.
Big technology companies: the first to return to face-to-face work.
As a return to normality draws ever closer, technology giants have been the first to return to their workspaces. Some companies, such as Microsoft, have already opened limited capacity workplaces in their home country. Google, however, has decided to go further: according to Forbes magazine, the tech giant, which has also reopened offices, has confirmed that it will limit teleworking in the future.
Meanwhile, Apple has declared its intention to maintain a hybrid working model. Its CEO, Tim Cook, emphasises the advantages of face-to-face work to promote collaboration and innovation, and has expressed the hope that employees will finally be able to return to the office. Facebook has also joined this plan: its CEO, Marc Zuckerberg, plans to activate the back-to-work plan in May with a maximum capacity of 10%, which could reach 50% in September, according to Bloomberg.
Amazon, on the other hand, has already maintained face-to-face work during the pandemic due to the logistical needs of e-commerce, defending that the company's culture is based on face-to-face work, as it allows collaboration and learning in a more efficient way.
Adapted to teleworking, but wishing to return to offices
In Spain, the situation is not very different: workers (and not only companies) are already calling for a return to the office. The Cushman and Wakefield real estate firm has presented the study "In Place 2", which gathers the perceptions of professionals regarding remote work, in which nearly 1,000 professionals in Spain from different sectors and profiles have participated.
Well, the most significant results of the study conclude that 91% of workers miss the office, with an increase of 83% of those who believe that face-to-face work allows for better interaction with colleagues in the office. In addition, the percentage of people who think it is easier to maintain a feeling of belonging to the company by working in the office is up by 60%. Therefore, in common with other studies carried out in the sector, it seems that behind the wish to share space with colleagues again, there is a need for social interaction and a link with the company.
This intention is also reflected in office contracts in the first quarter in Barcelona, which have increased strongly: 82,500 square metres have been contracted, which represents a 64% increase over the same quarter last year, according to data from Cushman and Wakefield. Estimates from the real estate consultancy firm CBRE are along the same lines: 55% more contracts have been signed in Barcelona, with 70,000 square metres contracted.
CINC helps you make it easier to get back to normality
At CINC we are ready to adapt your corporate workspace to the flexible formula you need. For more than 15 years we have been leading the preparation of spaces in 22@ and the centre of Girona, helping national and international companies to land in the technological district of Catalonia, providing all the human and logistical support to contribute to the growth of your company. In addition, we offer you integral support from our business consultancy services, insurance brokerage and programmes designed for new entrepreneurs.
If you want a safe and flexible return to the office, CINC offers you made-to-measure solutions with all the facilities in a singular environment that will allow you to improve the links and the feeling of belonging to the company.
