Reimagining
the office

What’s inside:

| 64% say facilities motivate more office visits—discover the top motivators.

| 1 in 4 want wellbeing features—see what’s most desired.

| Key FM leader priorities for 2025.

Reimagining the office: environment and experience are critical

Given the prevalence of hybrid work models, the reimagining of the office environment and the overall employee experience has become more critical than ever. Our research indicates that providing high-quality facilities and services is key to unlocking the potential of future hybrid models and making the office a desirable destination.

64%

of employee responses say facilities or office experience would motivate them to be in the workplace more.

64% of employee responses say an aspect related to facilities or office experiences would motivate them to be in the workplace more. Within this, and the overall strongest motivator, is curated food experiences across all day parts with a focus on breakfast, lunch, snacks and coffee.

While facilities and office experiences are the key trend to emerge from the research, there are some other areas that can help to drive more people to the office. Reducing the impact of the journey into work is one of them; doing this through subsidised commuting (both in time and money). Social aspects, such as social areas and organised social activities, also would motivate them to be in the office more often.

I would choose to go into the office more often if I enjoyed the overall workplace and facilities experience.

Agree
Disagree

Features of the ideal workspace

When envisioning their ideal future workspace, over half (55%) of employee responses choose features to drive their work productivity, with aspects such as comfortable chairs, adjustable desks, cutting edge technology tools and collaboration spaces. Meanwhile, in 25% of responses, workers would want a workspace that supports how they feel both physically and mentally.

25%

of responses say they would want features for well-being in their ideal workspace.

Which of the following features would most support your productivity in an ideal workspace?

Flexible and focus-oriented working areas
Access to natural light
The latest technology and digital tools
High-quality ergonomic furniture
Dedicated wellness and recharge rooms

Employees’ top five motivators to be in the office more (out of a possible 18 answers)

Employers need to prioritise experience, while carefully balancing costs

Our 2024 Annual Customer Engagement Survey—gathering insights from nearly 3,000 decision-makers in facilities management—reveals that service quality and cost optimisation is the top priority for 2025.

Ensuring workplace where both people and business can thrive means striking the right balance between cost efficiency and workplace experience, while leveraging technology to drive value. This means identifying experiences which deliver the most impact and design curated solutions based on employee needs and working patterns.

Importance of workplace sustainability

Looking ahead, our research underscores the high importance employees also place on sustainability initiatives in the workplace (80% find it important). The top three most desired initiatives include energy-efficient buildings, sustainable commuting options and sustainable food and beverage options.

55%

of responses say they would want productivity-based features in their ideal workspace.

Which area of sustainability would you most like to see your employer prioritise?

Sustainable commuting options (e.g. public transport incentives, bike schemes)
Energy efficiency and waste reduction in the workplace
Use of sustainable and responsibly sourced products
Inclusion, equity and social mobility initiatives

Attitudes towards AI

Furthermore, there is a predominantly positive sentiment towards the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future workplace. Employees anticipate AI transforming various aspects of work, including data analysis and decision-making, customer service and task automation making them much more efficient.

In conclusion, the evolving workplace demands a strategic focus on both flexibility to attract talent and a reimagined office environment that prioritises employee experience and well-being. By understanding and responding to employee needs and preferences in these areas, organisations can create thriving workplaces that support both individual and business goals.