Hana Survey Reveals the Limits of Working From Home
Andrew Kupiec, CEO of Hana
HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – While working from home offers clear benefits, a new survey from CBRE Hana, LLC finds that 92 percent of office workers now recognize distinct advantages to working in the office.
The Harris Poll conducted the survey of more than 1,000 office-based employees on behalf of Hana, a firm that provides flexible workspace solutions.
In the COVID-19 era, the findings highlight a growing desire among U.S. employees both for increased flexibility to work remotely at least part-time and for an office environment that supports essential face-to-face interactions:
Almost all respondents (99 percent) who worked remotely because of COVID-19 reported valuing aspects of remote work — for example, saving money (62 percent), avoiding daily commutes (55 percent), and gaining more control over their schedules (43 percent).
More than half (56 percent) said they want to split their time between the office and a remote location, or to work entirely outside the traditional office once COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Despite the appeal of remote work, a large majority (92 percent) said that working remotely during COVID-19 made them more appreciative of benefits that come from the office environment.
Workers cited several meaningful in-office interactions as particularly valuable: spontaneous encounters with colleagues (38 percent), in-person meetings (33 percent), and collaborative, face-to-face work (33 percent).
By contrast, fewer respondents reported valuing more recreational or social activities offered at the office, such as networking events (13 percent), employer-sponsored fitness classes (9 percent), or in-office games (6 percent).
“Forced fun should be reserved for family reunions,” said Brian Harrington, Chief Experience Officer at Hana. “As the survey shows, employees are looking to the office for productive, meaningful interactions with coworkers and are less interested in staged entertainment.”
CBRE Hana, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBRE Group, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm by 2019 revenue. Hana partners with property owners to design and operate flexible, scalable workspaces. Each location typically includes private office suites (Hana Team), meeting and event spaces (Hana Meet), and coworking areas (Hana Share).
“Employees want an office that facilitates real connections while also offering the flexibility to work remotely,” said Andrew Kupiec, CEO of Hana. “To meet these needs, organizations should consider flexible scheduling options and maintain office environments that support collaboration and face-to-face meetings.”
