US companies are shrinking their home offices, so can they keep theirs?

Companies across the United States are increasingly asking their employees to return to their offices — if they can afford it, how A recent survey showed that. Workplace strategy firm Robin surveyed more than 500 American business owners and facilities managers from industries such as technology, finance and construction to find out how companies use their offices.

The researchers found that 88% of the companies surveyed require their employees to work a certain number of days in the office, an increase of approximately 20%. Since the same survey conducted by Rubin in 2022. This may be due in part to companies being concerned about the potential negative impact of working from home.

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“There are good reasons for this: personal collaboration, cross-functional connection, professional development, and a sense of belonging,” Brian Muse, co-founder and chief technology officer at Robin, said in an email to Business Insider.

It seems that companies want their employees to come to the office most days of the week. The survey found that among companies that require office work, 52% require their employees to come into the office four days a week – a 32% increase since 2022. Muse said this may be because companies in sectors such as financial services and construction are asking their employees Being in offices often.

However, this does not mean that the offices are now fully equipped. Although the majority of employers want their employees to work from the office some days, only 28% of these companies use their office space 100% of the time. In fact, the study found that 80 percent of offices have downsized since the start of the pandemic.

After all, keeping the lights on in the office can be expensive. More than 60% of companies surveyed pay more than $50 per square meter for their office space.

“With flexible working, people are still working at home one to four days a week, so companies need to think carefully about how they use their time in the office and what their space needs are in the long term,” Musa explained.

These results come at a time when large companies and small businesses are seeking to return to the office to boost profits. However, the return to the company’s headquarters is angering some workers who enjoy the flexibility of working from home.

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A 31-year-old technology worker said he is thinking out loud about leaving the job he once loved after his employer required employees to come into the office twice a week.

Working in an office can be expensive and make it difficult for parents or people with disabilities to do their work.

However, there are groups of employees who enjoy working in the office. For example, some Gen Z workers go to the office more than they need to so they don’t feel lonely at work. Incentives — whether it’s a free lunch or a bonus — could be what companies need to keep the lights on in their offices, according to Rubin. “Companies will continue to think of new ways to motivate employees,” the study says.