After two years of the pandemic, a hybrid working environment has become the new normal. Professionals in the real estate and facility management sectors are faced with the task of planning office capacity for the future. Two-thirds intend to continue investing despite the rise in remote working. This is revealed by an exclusive, global survey conducted by the facility management specialist ISS.
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ISS Pulse Survey: Survey of 100 international customers across 20 countries
Companies’ priorities regarding office workspaces have changed significantly in recent years. While the last ISS survey conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic identified operational efficiency and cost savings as the top priorities in office planning and operations, today the focus is on employees - specifically, their recruitment and retention. Nearly two-thirds of the companies surveyed are also investing in their office infrastructure for this purpose.
The findings come from the new “ISS Pulse Survey,” the latest survey by ISS, a leading provider of facility management and workplace experience solutions. The survey was conducted in 20 countries among 100 of ISS’s international clients, who represent over one million office workers worldwide across various industries.
Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of the ISS World Services A/S Group: “The balance of power in global labor markets has shifted from employers to employees. The pandemic has further accelerated hybrid work models, as well as employees’ expectations regarding flexibility. The new challenge for employers is to meet these expectations in a way that satisfies the productivity needs of both employees and the company. It’s not a question of whether employees are in the office, but rather how they can thrive, innovate, and collaborate. “We’re currently seeing many companies redefining their workspaces to adapt to hybrid work models as well as to employees’ personal preferences. In doing so, they’re focusing both on the physical environment in which people work and on the experience they have when they come into the office.”
No One-Size-Fits-All Model: The Workplace Must Fit the Company
The survey also shows that the majority of companies (69%) currently have no plans to downsize their office space. And those companies that have decided to downsize as a result of remote work are simultaneously investing in their corporate culture and the workplace experience to improve innovation and collaboration among their employees.
Jacob Aarup-Andersen: “Despite the different approaches to the issue of real estate’s environmental footprint, the goal remains employee retention. There is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to designing the workplace of the future; it must be tailored to the company and its employees. One thing is certain, however: predictions that the office would disappear were exaggerated. On the contrary, we are seeing workspaces being reimagined and redesigned worldwide today.”
For André Nauer, CEO of ISS Switzerland, there is no doubt that “especially in the context of the ‘New Normal,’ office environments will continue to change. They will become more colorful, more inviting, more conducive to communication, and they will foster collaboration among employees.” As a leading facility management provider in Switzerland, ISS specializes in advisory services, workplace and workspace design, energy management, health and safety, and environmental management. André Nauer: “Under the leadership of Ulrike Bäuerle and Dr. David Lunze, ISS has a team of specialists in Workspace Design & Construction that offers the entire range of services - from project planning to implementation - all under one roof.”
Rankings Before and After COVID: Results and Changes in Priorities
Rank in 2020 (in parentheses)
- Rank (2) Employee Engagement
- Rank (1) Operational Efficiency
- Rank (5) Environmental Sustainability
- Rank (6) Attract Talent
- Rank (3) Employee Productivity
- Rank (4) Cost Savings
- Rank (8) Diversity and Inclusion
- Rank (7) Operational Compliance
- Rank (9) Reduce Employee Turnover