IWG finds ‘flexible’ workers avoiding office
Close to 70% of workers forgo the office to work elsewhere, and more than 50% do so for at least half the week, heralding a major reassessment of corporate real estate, says serviced office and co-working space provider IWG.
The study found every week 70% of employees are working at least one day a week somewhere other than the office. More than half (53%) work remotely for half the week or more, while more than one in 10 (11%) people work outside of their company’s main office location five times a week.
IWG’s study polled over 18,000 professionals from a range of different industries across 96 countries.
“People no longer need to spend so much time in a particular office,” said founder and chief executive Mark Dixon. “We are entering the era of the mobile workforce and it is hugely exciting for individual employees and businesses. This is a huge shift in the workspace landscape globally, and businesses are looking closely at what this means for their corporate real estate portfolios.”
The study also found businesses recognised that offering flexible working strategies to their employees provided them with significant benefits. For example, flexible businesses grow at 89% (up from 67% in 2016), and are more competitive (87%, up from only 59% in 2014), productive (82%, up from 75% in 2013), and profitable (83%). They are also better at attracting and retaining top talent (80%, up from 64% in 2016).
For generations, the world has understood office-based work to involve a fixed location and a 9-5 schedule. But an unprecedented number of businesses are adopting a very different working model, which they say benefits them and their workers.
The survey found flexible working not only reduces commuting time, but enhances productivity, staff retention, job satisfaction and even creativity. This is in addition to the financial and strategic advantages it brings for businesses.
The move to flexible workspaces reflects the changing demands and expectations of the workforce. Close to 80% of those surveyed agree that flexible working helps them retain top talent while 64% are now offering this to help them recruit. Over half (58%) agreed offering flexible working improves job satisfaction, demonstrating the need for businesses to provide working environments suited to today’s employees to maintain a first-class workforce.
A resounding 91% said flexible workspaces enable employees to be more productive while on the move.
“New technologies mean many of us can now work anytime, anywhere,” said Ian Hallett, managing director of IWG and global head of brands and ventures. “The challenge for businesses is how to optimise this new landscape. Companies are realising the benefits of flexible working and its ability to increase productivity, job satisfaction and business performance.”
The survey showed also flexible working and the use of shared workspaces are no longer the preserve of startups. The world’s most successful businesses — including Etihad Airways, Diesel, GSK, Mastercard, Microsoft, Oracle and Uber — are already adopting a flexible workspace approach.
“Changes in technology and digitisation have led to a growing use of on-demand services generally in business, with organisations of all sizes wanting to increasingly outsource non-core activities,” said Mr Dixon.
Flexible working, supported by a professional on-demand workspace network, is now being discussed by senior leaders across functions in companies including risk management, business development, human resources, marketing and strategy.
“One day soon, flexible working could simply be known as ‘working’,” Mr Dixon said. “We are reaching the tipping point.”
Regus has 19 locations across Thailand and plans to open two locations in Chiang Mai. Regus business centre in Bhiraj Tower at Bitec opened last month. Spaces looks to add to its Summer Hill mall location with new branches at Chamchuri Square and Empire Tower Sathorn, said Noelle Coak, country head for Thailand.