Over half of workers feel that going to the office as mandated by company policies is a “waste of time”.

The Appspace 2024 Workplace Experience Trends & Insights Report found that, despite almost 60 percent of workers receiving some form of return-to-office (RTO) mandate in 2023, 54 percent of respondents felt coming into the office wasn’t worthwhile. Many respondents noted their office space wasn’t conducive to productive working and not enough colleagues were present to bolster collaboration.

The Appspace 2024 Workplace Experience Trends Report explores how employees define their workplace experience today, four years after the pandemic catalysed widespread remote and hybrid working models. It also intends to address shifts in employee views on workplace models and assesses organisations’ use of technology to enhance productivity and collaboration, regardless of employees’ locations.

A notable trend arising from the RTO movement is the growing preference for a “purposeful consumption of the office”. This concept reflects employees’ desire for meaningful reasons to be in the office beyond mandates and superficial incentives.

Appspace CEO, Tony DiBenedetto, commented:

While there’s no consensus on return-to-office mandates, employees and managers alike share a common desire for enhanced and simple workplace connections, whether collaboration takes place in person, remotely, or hybrid. Organizations can seize this moment to deliver the best workplace experience possible with consumer-like technology that mirrors the ease employees expect and have grown accustomed to in their personal lives.”

As technology impacts every aspect of employees’ personal lives, Appspace has argued there’s a growing expectation for workplace tools to keep pace, and the standard for “good” workplace technology has significantly risen.

This shift may explain why Appspace respondents have become increasingly dissatisfied with their workplace tech. Appsapce reported that the proportion of employees expressing complete satisfaction with their company’s tools and technologies has dwindled in the past three years: 39 percent in 2021, 33 percent in 2022, and 29 percent in 2023.

According to the Appspace research, perhaps surprisingly, Gen Z shows the highest inclination towards the RTO movement, with 77 percent in favour, while millennials display the least favorability, at 59 percent. Overall, 73 percent of respondents across all generations agree that “my employer could do more to enhance the in-office experience.”

The Most Common Pros And Cons Of In-Office Working

Detractors opposing office attendance prioritise remote flexibility and dislike long commutes. They also cite financial burdens around commuting and buying meals. Other concerns included workspace productivity, colleague availability, health and safety, and insufficient technology.

RTO supporters prioritise the office for various reasons, including social interaction, work-life separation, and access to resources and amenities. Surprisingly, some even enjoy the commute.

Other Notable Findings

The report highlights tech as the primary obstacle across all work models. In 2023, employees—whether remote, hybrid, or in-person—shared identical top challenges: tech issues, collaboration, and communication. Additionally, an overwhelming 84 percent of respondents believe their organisations can capitalise on AI opportunities.

ESG initiatives are also gaining traction among employees, notably in environmental, social, and governance realms. Seventy-two percent of all respondents emphasised the significance of a company’s ESG strategy, with only 8 percent dismissing its importance entirely. Additionally, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of in-office and hybrid workers expressed concern about their office’s energy consumption habits.

“Employees are becoming more aware and concerned about the environmental-related habits of their office spaces,” added Mike Hicks, Chief Marketing Officer at Appspace. “As organisations formalise and refine their return-to-office and hybrid policies, they can factor in their ESG performance with technology that addresses the dual goals of workplace engagement and sustainability in ways that deliver better productivity and employee satisfaction.”

2024 In Hybrid Work Trends

It’s been a momentous year for evaluating the state of hybrid work and where organisations and workers find themselves in the calculus. Four years after the pandemic, many organisations have settled on a hybrid model they believe best suits their needs. However, as Appspace’s study suggests, that isn’t always reflected in worker feedback.

Appspace’s report isn’t alone in illustrating worker dissatisfaction with general RTO mandates and in-office technology. Cisco‘s Hybrid Work Survey for 2024 found that less than half of workers believe their offices are well-equipped for hybrid working, corroborating Appspace’s findings.

Meanwhile, Owl Labs research from earlier this month found that “shadow management” around RTO is on the rise. At the same time, almost two-thirds of hybrid workers (61 percent) have felt pressured by a cyclical RTO mandate during specific periods of the year.

The accrued insights of complementary studies offer tangible evidence that there is still some broader disconnect between organisations and workers in what works best for everyone.



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