Office work has once again become the norm after the pandemic: three-quarters of employers (77%) have returned the majority of their staff to regular workplaces. At the same time, the office attendance model has undergone significant changes: almost half of surveyed employees (46%) and employers (54%) now operate in a hybrid format, combining office and remote work. These are the findings of a joint study conducted by TeDo (Technologies of Trust) and O1 Properties, the largest owner of Class A business centers in Moscow.

Today, only 7% of employees work fully remotely, though the figure varies by industry — from 2% in the real sector to 20% in telecommunications. Just one in ten employers (11%) believes that working from home can be as effective as working from the office. Employees, however, evaluate the two models differently: their opinions are nearly evenly split, with 54% preferring the office and 46% favoring remote work.

The compromise for both employers and staff has been the hybrid model. A quarter of employees are required to come to the office one to three days a week, while one in ten (8%) spends four days in the office.

Comfort and amenities: employees are more demanding of office infrastructure

With the return to offices, both employees and employers are increasingly attentive to factors that make being in the workplace more comfortable. Location and infrastructure are top priorities. For three-quarters of respondents, the most important criteria for a convenient office are proximity to the metro, availability of restaurants and cafés within walking distance, and the quality of property management services.

Employees, more than employers, focus not only on working conditions but also on opportunities for rest and well-being. They are more demanding of the infrastructure of both offices and the business centers they occupy. Half of employees (57%) value the availability of relaxation zones, 38% consider sleep pods important, a third (33%) want fitness facilities, a quarter (27%) value wellness activities, and one in five (21%) would like access to a therapist or massage specialist. Among employers, the figures were 40%, 15%, 28%, 18%, and 13% respectively.

Location, infrastructure, parking, and only then cost: what matters most to employers

For employers, cost is not the primary factor when choosing office space. Companies first look at convenient location (88%), developed infrastructure (72%), parking availability (52%), and only then at cost (44%) and the building’s class (32%).

Energy efficiency, waste sorting, and charity: demand for green offices

Both groups of respondents prefer offices built and managed in line with ESG principles. For 39% of employees and 43% of employers, energy-efficient lighting and water-saving systems are important. Half of employers (51%) and 41% of employees prefer the use of reusable tableware in office canteens. Separate waste collection is a priority for every second respondent (54% of employees and 52% of employers). One in five participants is ready to support charity fundraising initiatives (21% of employees and 22% of employers).

Communication, productivity, and comfort: why employees go to the office

For most employees (65%), the motivation to come to the office is the atmosphere that allows them to concentrate and quickly discuss work tasks with colleagues. Only 17% said they come to the office because it is required by their employer. For 8%, the key factor is workplace infrastructure that ensures comfort, for 5% it is the convenient location, and for 3% it is non-monetary incentives such as subsidized meals or in-office events.

Optimization and focus on technology: companies are automating workplace data analysis and booking systems

Employers are seeking to optimize office work. Many companies are developing systems to analyze the use of meeting rooms, their occupancy, and booking frequency. Based on this data, they are creating technological services for workplace and meeting room booking, aligned with employees’ office schedules and needs. The demand for such systems is increasing alongside the growth of hybrid work models, where the number of employees often exceeds available workstations.

“The office has once again become one of the key factors in attracting employees and maintaining loyalty. Pandemic-era forecasts about stagnation in the office real estate market did not come true. Instead, we see that with employees returning to familiar work formats, more and more employers want to make the office a comfortable place for both work and leisure. To achieve this, it is important to understand how employees’ preferences and motivations are changing when it comes to working from the office. The study we conducted with our colleagues at TeDo will help answer these questions and outline the first steps toward transforming the office into a space that supports effective work,” said Anastasia Arkhipova, Director of Marketing and Communications at O1 Properties.

“Today, the office is becoming a hub for interaction among employees working in different formats — both offline and remotely. The effectiveness of their collaboration depends in part on transforming the office into a convenient and functional space equipped for productive teamwork across various groups. The study we conducted together with O1 Properties will help companies comprehensively assess employee needs and adapt their offices to meet these evolving demands. This will give employers a competitive advantage and enhance their attractiveness among staff,” said Andrey Tonkonogov, Partner, Head of Real Estate Advisory Services at TeDo