New office worlds: Two-thirds of companies want to invest

ISS, an international facilities management and workplace experience services company, has unveiled the results of its latest "ISS Pulse Survey." The survey was conducted in 20 countries among 100 ISS international clients, representing more than one million office workers worldwide across a range of industries. The survey was based on the proposition that companies' office workplace priorities have changed markedly in recent years. While operational efficiency and cost savings were among the top priorities in office planning and operations in the last ISS survey before the Covid pandemic, employees, their recruitment and retention are now top priorities. Nearly two-thirds of the companies surveyed are also investing in their office environments to achieve this.

Unfold in the office

Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of ISS World Services A/S Group: "The balance of power in global labor markets has shifted from employers to employees. The pandemic has further accelerated hybrid work models, as well as employee expectations for flexibility. The new challenge for employers is to meet these expectations in ways that meet the productivity needs of both the employee and the company. It's not a question of whether employees are in the office, but rather how they can thrive, innovate and collaborate. Right now, we're seeing a lot of companies redefining their workspaces to adapt to hybrid work models and also to employees' personal preferences. They're focusing on both the physical setting in which people work and the experience they have when they come into the office."

Office space will not be reduced

The survey further shows that the majority of companies (69%) are not currently planning to downsize their office space. And those companies that have decided to downsize in the wake of home office are simultaneously investing in their corporate culture and workplace experience to improve innovation and collaboration among their employees. Jacob Aarup-Andersen: "Despite the different approaches to the issue of Real Estate's environmental footprint, the goal of employee retention remains. There is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to designing the workplace of the future; it has to fit the company and the employees. One thing is certain, however: predictions that the office would disappear were exaggerated. On the contrary, today we are seeing workspaces being reimagined and redesigned all over the world."

Office worlds continue to change

For André Nauer, CEO of ISS Switzerland, it is indisputable that "office environments will continue to change, especially in the context of the 'New Normal'. They will become more colorful, homelier, more communicative, and they will foster collaboration among employees." As one of the leading facility management providers in Switzerland, ISS specializes in Advisory, Workplace & Workspace Design, Energy Management, Health & Safety and Environmental Management. André Nauer: "Under the leadership of Ulrike Bäuerle and Dr. David Lunze, ISS has a team of specialists for Workspace Design & Construction that offers the entire range of services from project study to implementation from a single source."

Source: ISS