The looming debate: Remote, hybrid, or full RTO?
2024 Global
Workplace Report
VIEW FULLSCREEN
“A tale of two tenants” is a common headline, claiming big businesses are bifurcating on RTO. Companies like Amazon and Meta mandate in-office attendance, while others remain remote-first or office-optional.
Let’s see what the data tells us.
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
62%
of companies are executing a hybrid work strategy
CHAPTER 01
Business Leader Insights on the State of Office
Workplace Strategy
29%
of European talent is required in-office 5 days/week
of North American talent is required in-office 5 days/week
38%
of global companies are back in the office full-time
Stronger conviction in 2024
As companies plan their 2024 office strategies, we see a noticeable increase in return-to-office mandates. Unlike in 2023, defined by soft, nebulous policies fueled by a talent-centric labor market, there’s conviction for a strong return-to-office into 2024.
The state of hybrid & remote work
The desire for flexibility has led the hybrid model to dominate since the post-pandemic return to office, while remote-only is a minority strategy heading into 2024.
of companies require employees to come into the office 1-4 days a week
52%
of companies are taking a remote-first or office-optional approach
10%
of companies have gone fully remote, which holds true across both North America and Europe
1%
How do today’s workplace strategies compare to 6 months ago?
The majority of companies are mandating or encouraging more in-office work compared to 6 months ago.
21%
38%
35%
6%
This data is an excellent benchmark to compare your tenants to and craft a general strategy for your building, but this only elevates the need to be close to and truly understand your tenants' individual needs.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Ask executives about their workplace strategy
Track tenant occupancy and space utilization to validate the company's workplace strategy lines up to employee behavior
Support your tenants’ unique needs with distinctive spaces and digital experiences
Peering into the near future
Good news for office owners and operators — 55% of companies expect to encourage or mandate more time in office 6 months from now.
19%
of companies plan to mandate more time in office, breaking down to 21% in North America and 16% in Europe
37%
of companies are looking to keep consistent workplace strategies in 6 months
8%
6% of companies plan to mandate less in-office time while 2% plan to encourage less in 6 months
It’s undeniable that companies are leaning toward more in-office time, but a softer “encouragement” approach is winning over a harder, potentially press-worthy misstep of mandating time in office.
Companies in a fluid state of encouraging more in-office time or maintaining their existing workplace strategies are likely in need of extra space on high-occupancy office days. This is an excellent opportunity to offer in-building spill-over spaces and promote your nearby conference centers or flex spaces.
Despite the majority trend, 8% of companies looking to mandate or encourage less time in the office is a stark reminder that each tenant is unique. These tenants may require a creative retention strategy or be considered an expiration risk. It may be prudent to prepare for quickly bringing the space back to market.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Do company leaders have a pulse on their employee workplace needs?
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
With many companies encouraging or mandating more time in the office, what do they believe entices their talent to come back?
Executives and admins both believe collaboration, community, and productivity are the dominant motivators across North America and Europe.
36%
24%
21%
14%
5%
say in-person collaboration and community most entice talent to the office
47%
say increased productivity entices talent back to the office
say workplace culture and community and engagement bring talent back
say office and building amenities bring talent back
say company mandates are the explicit reason driving tenants back to the office
What are your top priorities and investments for your office(s)?
Increasing productivity
Increasing collaboration
Creating/maintaining company culture
Safety and security
North America
Europe
77%
63%
61%
64%
51%
49%
39%
3%
Given a clear stance on the importance of collaboration, community, and productivity, it should come as no surprise that increasing both productivity and collaboration go hand-in-hand as the leading priorities for 2024 workplace investments.
Top workplace investment priorities
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
VTS commissioned an independent study to pinpoint corporate tenant needs and expectations by surveying over 400 business leaders. The findings from this research have been gathered into VTS' first-ever Global Workplace Report to inform your 2024 tenant renewal and acquisition strategies.
The report is split into four chapters:
Workplace Strategy
How are companies handling return-to-office, and what workplace investments are they making to retain their talent?
Workplace Relationships
Which parts of the experience with their building and owner have an outsized impact on sentiment?
Workplace Access & Communications
What level of security, accessibility, and communication do tenants desire?
Workplace Engagement
Is personalization the key to making the workplace more attractive?
Executives and admins also believe their stance on workplace policy has been successful. 84% of respondents had a very positive or positive assessment of employee satisfaction and receptiveness towards their workplace policy.
33%
of global respondents say employees feel very positive about their company’s workplace policy
Employee receptiveness of workplace policy
36%
of companies are taking a softer approach to encourage, but not mandate, more time in the office
of global respondents classify their talent as “positive” toward their workplace policy
51%
Neutral, negative, and very negative talent responses to policies are consistent across North America and Europe
Neutral
11%
Negative
4%
Very Negative
1%
Workplace collaboration, productivity, and culture are all interrelated factors to drive employee satisfaction, but they all mean different things to every company. The workplace strategy a company executes to improve these measures can vary wildly.
Prepare to be nimble and partner with tenants. This can only be achieved with a direct communication channel and dialogue between company executives and admins. Once you understand their unique objectives, you’ll be equipped to deliver physical and digital experiences tailored to their needs.
KEY TAKEAWAY
How much space do companies need?
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Most companies are feeling a Goldie Locks effect with their current office size being “just right.” With more companies planning to encourage or mandate more time in office in the next 6 months, we’ll benchmark how this stat changes over time.
of companies say their office is much too small
3%
of companies say their offices are too small
16%
of companies say their office is just the right size to meet their current needs
69%
of companies say their office is too large
10%
Our office is just right...
Our office is too small...
Our office is too large...
Redefining the workplace
We know the workplace now expands beyond the office and the home. But where do companies say their employees are actually working during the week? It's more flex-able than expected.
59% of global respondents say their talent is consistently navigating an expanded workplace, with work happening from home, shared spaces in their building, coffee shops, and – most notably – flex spaces provided by their companies.
Outside of your primary office, what spaces does your talent work in during the week?
The demand for flex space
Flex spaces are often positioned as a short-term alternative to fill vacancies and collaboration needs, but how much new demand is there? Here’s what companies had to say about whether sufficient collaborative spaces are provided outside of the workplace space, and if they’re actually used.
67%
of companies say their primary building provides sufficient collaborative spaces outside the workplace suite
Of this cohort, 50% say they actively use the spaces, while 17% say they do not
17%
13%
of companies are neutral on whether their primary office building provides sufficient collaborative spaces outside of the workplace suite
of companies say there is an insufficiency of collaborative spaces outside the suite
of companies say they don’t need collaborative spaces
3%
Most companies feel their current office space needs are being met, but there’s clear demand for expanded space. While supply and demand may be in balance, owners should be ready to offer new flex spaces to tenants as they encourage more time back in the office in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, tenants with too much office space are an obvious expiration risk. Whether they’re planning to increase in-office attendance or take more drastic measures like subleasing or reducing their footprint space, understanding their workplace strategy is critical. Polling tenants and gathering insights to understand their utilization (while keeping the context of your broader relationship with the tenant company in mind) will help you create the right renewal strategy for each tenant.
KEY TAKEAWAY
What are the top workplace challenges?
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
We’ve taken a dive into what companies believe entices their employees to use the office. Now the big question is what challenges are blocking them from improving the workplace?
Inadequate space utilization
(overcrowding or underutilized areas)
North America
Europe
30%
Inadequate safety and security
(concerns over building access or location)
What challenges or pain points in your current office space are you hoping to address/improve when considering your next office space?
25%
Sub-par building operations
(recurring maintenance issues)
Poor technical experience
(issues with internet speed or reliability)
Environmental concerns
(inadequate lighting, temperature control, or noise levels)
Health and well-being
(lack of wellness amenities or ergonomic workspace solutions)
35%
32%
29%
32%
34%
28%
27%
35%
18%
18%
Workplace needs are not monolithic! Safety, space utilization, ESG – all of these are a major challenge to tenants globally, but not universally. We stress once more the importance of communicating with your tenant customers and understanding their needs. All workplace challenges are solvable, but not in a vacuum.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Put these findings into action
Learn more about VTS Activate
Copyright View the Space, Inc. 2023
BACK TO TOP
From home
North America
Europe
58%
60%
53%
50%
21%
21%
34%
26%
From a company provided flex space
From a coffee shop
From shared spaces within the office building
but outside the suite
Overview
Lack of collaborative spaces
(limited spaces for team meetings and brainstorming)
40%
38%
The looming debate: Remote, hybrid, or full RTO?
Do company leaders have a pulse on their employee workplace needs?
How much space do companies need?
What are the top workplace challenges?
of companies require employees to come into the office 5 days a week
37%
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
of companies say their office is much too large
2%
Get a free demo
of European talent is required in-office 5 days/week
How do today’s workplace strategies compare to 6 months ago?
The majority of companies are mandating or encouraging more in-office work compared to 6 months ago.
of companies are mandating more time in the office. This breaks down to 25% of North American respondents and 17% of European respondents
of companies are encouraging more time in office. This breaks down to 33% of North American respondents and 43% of European respondents
of companies have held consistent workplace strategy policies. This group remains consistent across North America and Europe
of companies are encouraging, or even mandating less time in the office
It’s undeniable that companies are leaning toward more in-office time, but a softer “encouragement” approach is winning over a harder, potentially press-worthy misstep of mandating time in office.
Companies in a fluid state of encouraging more in-office time or maintaining their existing workplace strategies are likely in need of extra space on high-occupancy office days. This is an excellent opportunity to offer in-building spill-over spaces and promote your nearby conference centers or flex spaces.
Despite the majority trend, 8% of companies looking to mandate or encourage less time in the office is a stark reminder that each tenant is unique. These tenants may require a creative retention strategy or be considered an expiration risk. It may be prudent to prepare for quickly bringing the space back to market.
KEY TAKEAWAY
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Do company leaders have a pulse on their employee workplace needs?
With many companies encouraging or mandating more time in the office, what do they believe entices their talent to come back?
Executives and admins both believe collaboration, community, and productivity are the dominant motivators across North America and Europe.
say in-person collaboration and community most entice talent to the office
say increased productivity entices talent back to the office
say workplace culture and community and engagement bring talent back
say office and building amenities bring talent back
say company mandates are the explicit reason driving tenants back to the office
Top workplace investment priorities
Given a clear stance on the importance of collaboration, community, and productivity, it should come as no surprise that increasing both productivity and collaboration go hand-in-hand as the leading priorities for 2024 workplace investments.
Employee receptiveness of workplace policy
Executives and admins also believe their stance on workplace policy has been successful. 84% of respondents had a very positive or positive assessment of employee satisfaction and receptiveness towards their workplace policy.
Workplace collaboration, productivity, and culture are all interrelated factors to drive employee satisfaction, but they all mean different things to every company. The workplace strategy a company executes to improve these measures can vary wildly.
Prepare to be nimble and partner with tenants. This can only be achieved with a direct communication channel and dialogue between company executives and admins. Once you understand their unique objectives, you’ll be equipped to deliver physical and digital experiences tailored to their needs.
KEY TAKEAWAY
How much space do companies need?
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Most companies are feeling a Goldie Locks effect with their current office size being “just right.” With more companies planning to encourage or mandate more time in office in the next 6 months, we’ll benchmark how this stat changes over time.
of companies say their office is just the right size to meet their current needs
69%
Our office is just right...
of companies say their office is much too large
2%
of companies say their office is too large
10%
Redefining the workplace
We know the workplace now expands beyond the office and the home. But where do companies say their employees are actually working during the week? It's more flex-able than expected.
59% of global respondents say their talent is consistently navigating an expanded workplace, with work happening from home, shared spaces in their building, coffee shops, and – most notably – flex spaces provided by their companies.
Outside of your primary office, what spaces does your talent work in during the week?
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
From home
North America
Europe
58%
60%
53%
50%
21%
21%
34%
26%
From a company provided flex space
From a coffee shop
From shared spaces within the office building but outside the suite
The demand for flex space
Flex spaces are often positioned as a short-term alternative to fill vacancies and collaboration needs, but how much new demand is there? Here’s what companies had to say about whether sufficient collaborative spaces are provided outside of the workplace space, and if they’re actually used.
Most companies feel their current office space needs are being met, but there’s clear demand for expanded space. While supply and demand may be in balance, owners should be ready to offer new flex spaces to tenants as they encourage more time back in the office in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, tenants with too much office space are an obvious expiration risk. Whether they’re planning to increase in-office attendance or take more drastic measures like subleasing or reducing their footprint space, understanding their workplace strategy is critical. Polling tenants and gathering insights to understand their utilization (while keeping the context of your broader relationship with the tenant company in mind) will help you create the right renewal strategy for each tenant.
KEY TAKEAWAY
What are the top workplace challenges?
We’ve taken a dive into what companies believe entices their employees to use the office. Now the big question is what challenges are blocking them from improving the workplace?
What challenges or pain points in your current office space are you hoping to address/improve when considering your next office space?
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
Lack of collaborative spaces
(limited spaces for team meetings and brainstorming)
North America
Europe
40%
38%
35%
32%
34%
28%
30%
25%
Inadequate safety and security
(concerns over building access or location)
Poor technical experience
(issues with internet speed or reliability)
Inadequate space utilization
(overcrowding or underutilized areas)
Sub-par building operations
(recurring maintenance issues)
Environmental concerns
(inadequate lighting, temperature control, or noise levels)
Health and well-being
(lack of wellness amenities or ergonomic workspace solutions)
29%
32%
27%
35%
18%
18%
Workplace needs are not monolithic! Safety, space utilization, ESG – all of these are a major challenge to tenants globally, but not universally. We stress once more the importance of communicating with your tenant customers and understanding their needs. All workplace challenges are solvable, but not in a vacuum.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Copyright View the Space, Inc. 2023
BACK TO TOP
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Do company leaders have a pulse on their employee workplace needs?
With many companies encouraging or mandating more time in the office, what do they believe entices their talent to come back?
Executives and admins both believe collaboration, community, and productivity are the dominant motivators across North America and Europe.
say increased productivity entices talent back to the office
say workplace culture and community and engagement bring talent back
say office and building amenities bring talent back
say company mandates are the explicit reason driving tenants back to the office
Top workplace investment priorities
Given a clear stance on the importance of collaboration, community, and productivity, it should come as no surprise that increasing both productivity and collaboration go hand-in-hand as the leading priorities for 2024 workplace investments.
Increasing productivity
Increasing collaboration
Creating/maintaining company culture
Safety and security
Increasing productivity
Creating/maintaining company culture
Employee receptiveness of workplace policy
Executives and admins also believe their stance on workplace policy has been successful. 84% of respondents had a very positive or positive assessment of employee satisfaction and receptiveness towards their workplace policy.
Workplace collaboration, productivity, and culture are all interrelated factors to drive employee satisfaction, but they all mean different things to every company. The workplace strategy a company executes to improve these measures can vary wildly.
Prepare to be nimble and partner with tenants. This can only be achieved with a direct communication channel and dialog between company executives and admins. Once you understand their unique objectives, you’ll be equipped to deliver physical and digital experiences tailored to their needs.
KEY TAKEAWAY
How much space do companies need?
Most companies are feeling a Goldie Locks effect with their current office size being “just right.” With more companies planning to encourage or mandate more time in office in the next 6 months, we’ll benchmark how this stat changes over time.
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Redefining the workplace
We know the workplace now expands beyond the office and the home. But where do companies say their employees are actually working during the week? It's more flex-able than expected.
59% of global respondents say their talent is consistently navigating an expanded workplace, with work happening from home, shared spaces in their building, coffee shops, and – most notably – flex spaces provided by their companies.
Increasing productivity
Increasing collaboration
Creating/maintaining company culture
N. A.
Europe
58%
60%
53%
50%
21%
21%
34%
26%
What are your top priorities and investments for your office(s)?
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
From a company provided flex space
The demand for flex space
Flex spaces are often positioned as a short-term alternative to fill vacancies and collaboration needs, but how much new demand is there? Here’s what companies had to say about whether sufficient collaborative spaces are provided outside of the workplace space, and if they’re actually used.
Most companies feel their current office space needs are being met, but there’s clear demand for expanded space. While supply and demand may be in balance, owners should be ready to offer new flex spaces to tenants as they encourage more time back in the office in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, tenants with too much office space are an obvious expiration risk. Whether they’re planning to increase in-office attendance or take more drastic measures like subleasing or reducing their footprint space, understanding their workplace strategy is critical. Polling tenants and gathering insights to understand their utilization (while keeping the context of your broader relationship with the tenant company in mind) will help you create the right renewal strategy for each tenant.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Copyright View the Space, Inc. 2023
BACK TO TOP
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
Lack of collaborative spaces
(limited spaces for team meetings and brainstorming)
Inadequate safety and security (concerns over building access or location)
Poor technical experience
(issues with internet speed or reliability)
Inadequate space utilization
(overcrowding or underutilized areas)
Sub-par building operations
(recurring maintenance issues)
Environmental concerns
(inadequate lighting, temperature control, or noise levels)
Health and well-being
(lack of wellness amenities or ergonomic workspace solutions)
N. A.
Europe
40%
38%
35%
32%
34%
28%
30%
25%
29%
32%
27%
35%
18%
18%
What challenges or pain points in your current office space are you hoping to address/improve when considering your next office space?
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
Workplace needs are not monolithic! Safety, space utilization, ESG – all of these are a major challenge to tenants globally, but not universally. We stress once more the importance of communicating with your tenant customers and understanding their needs. All workplace challenges are solvable, but not in a vacuum.
KEY TAKEAWAY
What are the top workplace challenges?
We’ve taken a dive into what companies believe entices their employees to use the office. Now the big question is what challenges are blocking them from improving the workplace?
CHAPTER 02
Workplace Relationships
say partnership to improve their workplace experience
say location
say relationship with
lobby/building staff
say in-building/nearby food and beverage options
say in-building engagement (events, perks, content)
34%
27%
18%
13%
8%
How do tenants feel
about their building’s
owner and operator?
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
A company’s sentiment about their workplace is impacted by more than just the quality and location of the space they occupy. Their relationship with the building’s owner and building staff are also major inputs to the tenant’s overall experience.
Let’s see what factors into a company’s sentiment.
The positive: owner flexibility
feel their landlords are very flexible and accommodating to their needs in the current business climate
The economic environment and the ongoing uncertainty it has created have presented challenges for commercial real estate owners, operators, and the companies they serve. Given the impact of external forces, tenants recognize owner flexibility — setting the foundation for a positive working relationship.
67%
say their landlords are somewhat flexible, but there is room for improvement
30%
say their landlords have not been flexible at all
3%
The negative: a perceived lack of effort
say recurring maintenance issues
Recurring maintenance issues, along with a lack of consistent partnership and communication, create negative tenant sentiment towards owners and operators.
The opportunity: build deeper relationships
Factors such as location or nearby retail options are more complicated to solve, but developing a deeper partnership with tenants is ultimately within an owner’s and operator’s control. Over 34% of respondents indicated that a relationship with a building’s staff and its owner has the most positive impact on their sentiment of the workplace.
24%
say partnership to improve our workplace experience
23%
say lack of communication
16%
say relationship with lobby/building staff
14%
say location
14%
say in-building/nearby food and beverage options
9%
Commercial real estate remains a relationship business. Tenant sentiment towards their building’s owner and operator is significantly influenced by how collaborative their partnership is. While tenants appreciate amenities, the foundational aspects of the relationship revolve around addressing operational and employee engagement needs. The workplace experience extends beyond the suite; owners and operators play a pivotal role in bringing a company's workplace strategy to life.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Companies say they want deeper partnership from their owners and operators, but what does that mean? Here are the top ways tenants wish their owner and operator would partner with them.
Where companies need help
Producing engagement activities specific to their company
Fixing recurring maintenance issues
Providing workplace solutions within their suite
Sharing clear or frequent communications
North America
Europe
57%
40%
38%
50%
41%
35%
47%
27%
Executive issues also extend beyond the cost and limitations of their physical workspace. Taking interactions with their landlords into consideration, building maintenance and safety also emerge as top concerns.
Overall
Coordinating and setting up building access for employees and guests
31%
Addressing maintenance and repair issues promptly
39%
Ensuring compliance with safety and building codes
36%
Resolving disputes or disagreements related to the lease
29%
Negotiating lease terms and rental rates
32%
Obtaining landlord support for office space customization or improvements
26%
Dealing with unexpected cost escalations or additional fees
16%
Addressing concerns about lease flexibility in changing business conditions
19%
Lack of efficient building access and operations is the top issue executives have with their workplace. With responses distributed across categories, it’s clear that executives expect every touchpoint from their owner and operator to be seamless from street-to-suite.
21%
desire more efficient building access and operations
19%
say cost of the
physical workplace
Do executives and employees share the same sentiment?
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
There are two company stakeholder groups — the executive staff and their employees — whose collective views add up to overall tenant sentiment. But do both groups have the same concerns about their workplace?
Both company executives and their talent are clear that they want more from their workspaces. Owners and operators need to get the basics right — like promptly addressing maintenance issues and sending operational communications — while also finding ways to deliver more value to executives and their talent. With leaders citing workplace cost as a top concern, owners and operators need to elevate in-building service and experiences to justify cost and make renewing an easy decision for executives.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Put these findings into action
Learn more about VTS Activate
Get a free demo
15%
say better service and communications from operator/owner
17%
desire more in-building amenities, engagement, and retail options
Desire more in-building collaborative workspaces
13%
Say the location of their office building
9%
Desire for workplace recommendations/solutions within our suite
6%
How executives feel
Find an all-in-one solution to uplevel operations, communications, access experiences, and engagement throughout your building
Offer and promote in-building amenities and collaborative spaces to address tenant demands
Invest in solutions to enhance your staff’s ability to deliver a higher standard of hospitality and service
How employees feel
While building maintenance, safety, and cost are top-of-mind for executives, they believe their employees are more focused on the quality of their office experience. Responses ultimately point to their desire for a collaborative and amenity-rich workplace.
40%
of companies desire more
in-building amenities and collaborative workspaces
21%
of companies desire a more hospitality-like experience in the building and suite
13%
of companies say
location is an issue
Companies desire more in-building engagement and in-building and nearby retail options
10%
Companies desire more modern/seamless
access experiences
9%
Companies say they lack communication from their owner/operator
7%
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
Top executive issues
How do tenants feel about their building’s
owner and operator?
Do executives and employees share the
same sentiment?
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
CHAPTER 02
Workplace Relationships
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
How do tenants feel about their building’s
owner and operator?
A company’s sentiment about their workplace is impacted by more than just the quality and location of the space they occupy. Their relationship with the building’s owner and building staff are also major inputs to the tenant’s overall experience.
Let’s see what factors into a company’s sentiment.
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
Do executives and employees share the same sentiment?
There are two company stakeholder groups — the executive staff and their employees — whose collective views add up to overall tenant sentiment. But do both groups have the same concerns about their workplace?
How executives feel
Lack of efficient building access and operations is the top issue executives have with their workplace. With responses distributed across categories, it’s clear that executives expect every touchpoint from their owner and operator to be seamless from street-to-suite.
How do tenants feel about their building’s owner and operator?
Do executives and employees share the same sentiment?
How do tenants feel about their building’s owner and operator?
A company’s sentiment about their workplace is impacted by more than
just the quality and location of the
space they occupy. Their relationship
with the building’s owner and building
staff are also major inputs to the tenant’s overall experience.
Let’s see what factors into a company’s sentiment.
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
What role does access play in a company’s workplace strategy?
03 WORKPLACE ACCESS & COMMUNICATIONS
Owners and operators have traditionally focused on building access in markets where turnstiles are widely present. What is the building access experience companies expect today, and how does it contribute to their workplace strategy? In this chapter, we dive into tenant expectations for all things access.
Let’s see what tenants want you to deliver.
Mobile access is the new norm. While some tenants may be content with the status quo for now, owners should invest in better access experiences, management, and security before tenant sentiment is impacted.
Leaders and their talent want a secure, campus-like, and amenity-rich work experience. Offering shared spaces is an efficient way to capture this demand. Providing flexible access is the literal key to addressing this demand and deepening your partnership with tenants.
KEY TAKEAWAY
CHAPTER 03
Workplace Access & Communications
Safety and security are paramount
say building safety is important
The vast majority of companies are focused on building safety and security when considering new office space to lease or renewing their current office space.
87%
are neutral about building safety
11%
Mobile access is the ideal
The ideal building access experience mirrors a typical tech adoption curve, with innovators, the majority, and laggards. The majority of companies want to access building and spaces via their mobile device. Innovative companies want advanced, emerging access technologies, while late adopters are fine with keycards or no building access — for now.
want mobile access to unlock spaces
53%
want base-building keycards
32%
want other emerging access technologies like fingerprint scanning
9%
say no access control is needed
6%
say building safety is not important
2%
2%
don’t have a preference on the matter
11%
say it’s not a significant consideration for their organization
42%
would benefit on occasion, but it’s not a top priority
45%
find value in the flexibility and optionality for their organization
Many owners are looking to increase utilization across their portfolios by creating a campus of spaces for tenants to access. The data proves tenant demand is there, as the majority of companies find value in getting access to other workspaces or amenities within their owner’s portfolio of buildings.
Accessing spaces in other buildings
Impact for the tenant suite
Companies want a secure, mobile access experience for their building — but what about suite access? When asked if they are interested in using one application to access both the building and the workplace suite, the results were clear — tenants want the convenience of one app.
Want a singular app for access
92%
Not interested in mobile access
8%
Owners must make it easy for tenant executives, admins, and talent to reach the right contact and facilitate back-and-forth communications.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Neutral
17%
Unconfident
13%
30%
very confident
40%
somewhat confident
When an issue or question arises, most executives say they’re confident they know the right contact and how to reach them. But a sizable 30% is neutral or unsure of who in your building can help, or how to reach them.
Reaching key building contacts
Owners and operators often struggle to break through the noise and reach tenants with important information, from operational updates to engagement opportunities and even critical emergency notifications. Read more about the state of office communications and the best method to reach company executives.
Are your communications reaching the right audience?
03 WORKPLACE ACCESS & COMMUNICATIONS
say updates passed from owner/operator to company workplace admin
50%
say emails
61%
say in-building signage
33%
say in-app communications
39%
How owners & operators communicate
say in-app communications
55%
say emails
60%
say in-building signage
31%
say updates passed from owner/operator to company workplace admin
48%
How tenant executives
want to receive communications
Email is the top choice for how owners and operators currently prefer to communicate and how companies prefer to receive communications. A close runner-up is in-app communications, with companies wanting more than their owners deliver today.
Respondents selected multiple options to represent their experience
Communication between executives and owners & operators
Tenants say email is the top way they want to receive communications, but consider using multiple methods to ensure alerts and important messages are not missed.
Tenants need targeted information at their fingertips. Having a singular app to centralize information, documents, and communications through a variety of channels makes accessing information easier for tenants while simplifying processes for owners and operators.
What role does access play in a company’s
workplace strategy?
Are your communications reaching the
right audience?
03 WORKPLACE ACCESS & COMMUNICATIONS
vs.
What role does access play in a company’s workplace strategy?
Are your communications reaching the right audience?
03 WORKPLACE ACCESS & COMMUNICATIONS
Neutral
17%
13%
Unconfident
CHAPTER 03
Workplace Access
& Communications
What is the power of a branded workplace?
04 WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT
CHAPTER 04
Workplace Engagement
Owners and operators aren’t alone in moving to consolidate their technology — companies are too. Tenants want one app to access everything their building offers.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Tenants want one app to engage with you and their workplace
Say lobby experience and design
29%
Say location
24%
The interest in workplace apps is clear. Most tenants want one app to facilitate their experience with your staff, your building, and everything you offer.
In-building technology is an extension of a tenant’s brand
Almost half of tenants say technology deployed in their office buildings is a reflection of their company brand and culture. A sizable share of tenants also view owner-provided offerings — from access, to amenities, and even retail — as reflections of their company and strategy.
What is the power of a branded workplace?
04 WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT
When companies choose an office building to occupy, they are looking for a space that reflects their brand. What aspects of the in-building experience reflect a tenant’s brand, and what role does technology play in creating a brand-positive workplace?
Let’s see how a branded workplace impacts a tenant's experience and sentiment.
36%
say in-building or nearby retail, food, and beverage offerings
38%
say in-building amenities
39%
say building access experience
46%
say in-building technology
Say building safety
19%
Say important
80%
Say neutral
14%
Say not important
6%
say to receive building information and communications
say building access
say submitting operational requests
say to reserve spaces and book services in the building
say not applicable
25%
23%
19%
16%
11%
6%
say events and perks
Tenants value “hygiene” over “hype”
Most tenants say their building offers a workplace app — but what value do they actually want from it? Tenants desire “hygiene” features that address their basic operational needs more than “hype” features like events and perks. Receiving building information, building access, and submitting operational requests are seen as the most valuable features.
Tenants want to partner with their owners and operators in every facet of their workplace strategy. Delivering a workplace experience that focuses on your tenant's needs and brand will deepen your relationship, bolster sentiment, and help you become an essential workplace strategy partner.
Derived from a comprehensive study of over 400 company leaders, the VTS Global Workplace Report captured distinct insights with regards to corporate tenant needs and expectations.
Our goal for this inaugural study was to offer a nuanced look into how company executives think about workplace strategy, owner/operator relationships, access and operations, and employee engagement. To that end, we hope this report serves as your strategic guide for your tenant renewal and acquisition strategies in 2024.
Companies want workplace apps to reflect their brand
Say important
77%
Say neutral
16%
Say not important
7%
From technology to physical spaces, your offerings are reflections of your tenants and their respective brands. This includes your workplace app. Most tenant executives believe it’s important for their company to have an app that reflects their brand.
12%
say no
88%
say yes
Make it about them…and about you
Companies overwhelmingly believe an app that’s personalized to their brand and has both building and company-specific information and experiences will boost their employees' office attendance.
Respondents selected multiple options when considering what building features are a reflection of their company’s brand and culture.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What is the power of a branded workplace?
04 WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT
02 WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS
Overview
The looming debate: Remote, hybrid, or full RTO?
Do company leaders have a pulse on their employee workplace needs?
How much space do companies need?
What are the top workplace challenges?
01 WORKPLACE STRATEGY
What role does access play in a company’s workplace strategy?
Are your communications reaching the right audience?
03 WORKPLACE ACCESS & COMMS
What is the power of a branded workplace?
04 WORKPLACE ENGAGEMENT
How do tenants feel about their building’s owner and operator?
Do executives and employees share the same sentiment?