July 20, 2021
San Francisco and London, Jul 20, 2021: New research commissioned by Kadence has today revealed that office workers in the US are more eager and prepared to spend extra time and money commuting to work post-pandemic than their UK counterparts.
The survey of 1,500 US and UK office workers found that almost twice as many Americans (62% versus 34%) find the prospect of returning to the office more exciting, having spent all their time at home this past year. So much so that half likened it to going to the pub with friends (50%).
The research also found that nearly half (45%) of the US workers surveyed bonded with their co-workers over personal and family challenges during lockdown, which seems to be fuelling their desire to build on these meaningful connections in a face-to-face setting.
With almost two thirds (58%) of US workers certain that the office return will improve both their mental health and levels of productivity, it’s no wonder they’re keen to go back, with two in five planning to travel further and spend more money to do so. This is three times greater than UK workers, of whom less than a quarter (18%) are prepared to make the same commitment.
The research also suggests that US employees are eager to return to the office for better communication. Over a quarter (26%) said they’re most looking forward to escaping the kids at home and returning to adult conversation, while 21% said they are excited at the prospect of seeing their office crush.
Despite lockdown restrictions lifting, UK workers are less eager to return to the office with over a half of employees (55%) expecting to work fewer days in the office per week after the pandemic. While UK employees may prefer remote working, they seem to feel it may not be the most constructive use of their time. Over a quarter said they found connection problems during video calls (29%) and the expectation to always be online (27%) the most frustrating things about working from home.
Dan Bladen, Co-Founder and CEO at Kadence explains: “The needs and attitudes of workers have always varied across every business and sector, not to mention location. Throw in a pandemic, working from home and now returning to the office – demands are going to be different for everyone. As a Brit living in San Francisco, I’ve witnessed these varying workplace cultures firsthand and therefore appreciate how all employers must adapt to fit the specific needs of their staff. There’s no single solution; employers have to listen to their teams and empower them to do their jobs well, whilst making the transition back to the office desirable and exciting. It’s finding the balance of understanding people’s needs and creating environments that encourage productive working.”
Office design was also shown to be top of workers’ minds, with one in three employees expecting more collaborative office zones to be made available when they return to the office (34%). Kadence’s study also revealed that workers expect more competition for the best desks or areas in the office (33%).
Bladen adds: “It’s hard to please everyone, but these results show that generally speaking, neither US or UK employees wish to work at home or in the office on a full-time basis. The future of how and where we work must embrace and encourage a blend of both to unlock the best potential of its people. Involving employees in the decision-making process and offering them more control over how and where they connect and collaborate with each other provides the perfect opportunity to increase engagement.”
The recently launched Kadence Wx offers workplace leaders an operating system to create the best conditions for people to thrive in the new era of flexible working practices, combining desk-booking software and and people scheduling data to improve the synchronization of people, spaces and time.
Book a demo with our team to discover how we can help you create a hybrid workplace for your people.
