6. Property owners are coming under pressure. Companies are demanding greater flexibility in lease agreements
The ongoing changes are also increasingly reflected in the preferences of companies regarding the conclusion of lease agreements, which are intended to provide more freedom. 42% of the companies would appreciate having access to shared services in the building, equipment and/or flexible spaces as part of the agreement. There is also identical interest in concluding so-called environmental lease clauses, on the basis of which the owner and occupier of the building assume specific obligations to ensure the sustainable operation of the property and to improve the environment. In addition, 40% of the companies require lease contracts to reflect to a greater extent the different use and occupancy of their offices during the working week.
7. Interest in flexible office spaces is growing at a faster tempo
The popularity of flexible offices is growing due to the diverse offer and higher awareness of companies. “There are many reasons for their use. They offer a high user experience and an opportunity to build new contacts, they are also useful in times of uncertain demand or when entering new markets as a ‘test office’. However, the main factor that 43% of companies report is the effort to avoid investments in expensive office equipment and long-term commitments associated with traditional leases,” said Lenka Ferguson, a CBRE specialist in flexible offices and coworking spaces. Almost two-thirds of the respondents say that flexible spaces currently account for less than 10% of their portfolio. Nevertheless, only about half expect their situation to look the same in two years. Of course, there are differences between companies depending on their size and business. In any case, large companies with more than 5000 employees currently achieve half the share of flexible space in 1.5% of the cases, but in two years this share should already apply to 12% of the companies.
8. The choice of office spaces is affected by their availability and sustainable solutions
Employees are increasingly placing an emphasis on the quality of the work environment and are less willing to commute to work than before the pandemic. For two-thirds, commuting time is in fact the second most important factor when choosing a job right after salary conditions. Both of these changes are now largely reflected in the strategic decisions of companies when choosing suitable offices. The most important for them are: good public transport accessibility (80%), an abundance of parking spaces (57%), charging stations for electric cars (48%), parking spaces for bikes or scooters (38%) and dining opportunities in the locality (54%). ESG principles are also becoming more important. 55% of the companies consider sustainability to be one of the most desirable features when choosing a building, which is 11 percentage points higher year-on-year. “An important factor for respondents from the Czech Republic and the CEE region, in addition to those mentioned above, was also the availability of food and refreshments in the building, which was reported by a total of 60% of the respondents,” added Filip Muška.
9. The sharing of workplaces and the focus on modern technology will intensify
The ongoing changes in working methods also have a significant impact on the appearance of offices. Companies are trying to create a work environment that encourages collaboration, improves the user experience, while at the same time enabling the space and resources to be used as efficiently as possible. In this spirit, companies aim to reduce the number of fixed workplaces (72% of respondents) and, conversely, to create workplaces divided into individual zones, which employees alternate during the day according to the type of activity performed (73% of companies). “The implications are also evident in the area of design and technological equipment. Video conferencing and room booking systems are considered key tools in supporting new work styles and connecting teams,” stated Muška.
10. When making decisions, the needs of people are increasingly emphasised
The inclusion of individuals, high motivation and productivity, facilitating team performance and related topics are currently resonating across companies. When managing changes, the needs of people are increasingly emphasised. Thus, decisions on the appearance of office space or the measures taken to support the transition to a new working arrangement are increasingly influenced by the opinions of employees. 55% of the surveyed companies report their involvement through various internal surveys or focus groups. At the same time, 68% of the respondents are resolving their concerns about the weakening of their company culture during and after the pandemic by building high-performance teams, while 65% of the companies are supporting employee engagement and motivation.
Survey details: A total of 136 European companies (62 of which came directly from the CEE region) participated in the European Office Occupier Sentiment Survey, the largest share of which (27%) specialises in financial and professional services, and 23% of the companies focus on technology, media and telecommunications. Companies with over 5000 employees formed a total of 58% of the respondents.
