UK offices are falling behind international counterparts

Commuting deters almost half of employees travelling to their office

The research data revealed that a staggering 1 in 3 (34%) office-based workers in the UK have a nightmare journey into work each day, which ultimately deters almost half (46%) from travelling into the office. For those that do come into the office, more than a third (38%) believe their working environment is uninspiring and unfit for purpose.

In fact, the majority (55%) agree that they’re more productive in an office. However, only a quarter (26%) of British employees believe their workplace provides them with the right tools to support their role, which suggests more of the UK workforce would be in the office if it was up to scratch.

It’s time for business leaders to reimagine their workplace

Too many spaces in the UK are stale and lifeless, and this has an impact on employees, particularly when it comes to productivity, happiness and ultimately, the desire to work from the office.

The fact that more than a third of workers think their office space is unfit for purpose contributes to high disengagement at work and shows that we must make a change. Business leaders need to reevaluate their spaces and shift ways of thinking to truly show they care about and value their people, empowering them to perform as a result.

As part of the research, we surveyed office-based workers in four key markets: the UK (London), USA (New York), Australia (Sydney) and Hong Kong for the research, polling more than 8,000 people.

Employee workplace wellbeing falling behind

Out of the entire survey, it’s employee wellbeing where the UK falls down most noticeably, as British workers don’t think they’re supported enough compared to their overseas counterparts. Almost half (43%) said that employee wellbeing isn’t a priority in their workplace, whereas workers in the USA (80%), Hong Kong (77%) and Australia (65%) all said that it’s a top priority in theirs.

In fact, UK employees are not only dissatisfied with wellbeing provisions in their office spaces, but with their pay packet too. Almost half (43%) of UK workers feel they’re underpaid, compared to 20% of Americans, 19% of Hong Kong workers and 38% of Australians.

It’s disappointing to see London and the UK track behind other key international cities in almost every aspect, but it also presents a huge opportunity for office-based businesses to act. Highlighting these results shows that currently not enough is being done to improve working lives in the UK, and it’s having a negative impact on our workforce.

If a business is struggling to bring people back to the office, they must first ask themselves if the physical workplace is adding value to the everyday working experience for individuals and for wider teams. Employee wellbeing has become a buzzword in recent years, but we must remember what it actually means for individuals and ensure meaningful, authentic steps are taken to improve working lives.

The top five key areas people look for in an office environment are:

1. A well-equipped and comfortable desk/workstation (53%)
2. Effective and user-friendly technology (42%)
3. Access to amenities (such as childcare, bike storage, gyms, supermarkets) (31%)
4. Dedicated areas for quiet focus work (31%)
5. Areas for in-person collaboration and teamwork (29%)

This research was conducted by Censuswide with 4008 office-based employees (full time or part time), who work in London, New York, Hong Kong, Sydney (18+) between 23.11.2023 and 06.12.2023. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.