With many workplaces now making decisions about whether they are going to continue with working from home or not, age has played an interesting role in whether employees want to continue going into the office.

With a huge cohort of new graduates and new joiners starting their career remotely, many young people have missed the buzz of the office and the camaraderie and mentoring opportunities this offers. Additionally, younger workers usually have a smaller space to work in and less access to private outdoor space than their older colleagues. This means that offices often provide a nicer and more comfortable environment for young people to work in when compared to continuing to work from home.

This is in stark contrast to their older colleagues who are juggling other responsibilities including childcare, elder care, and longer commutes. This means that many employers are facing a major challenge. How do they reconcile younger employees’ need for mentoring and camaraderie in the office with older employees’ preference for working from home? For many employers, this has meant adopting a hybrid approach with employees having flexible schedules and certain days where they go in. Others expect staff to return at near pre-pandemic levels, with still others offering more fully remote options.

The more generationally diverse a workforce, the more different the choices available to employers are. Companies in industries with a generally younger workforce are more likely to have staff come into the office, whereas those in industries where staff are generally older are far more likely to make provisions for a continuation of remote working. In addition, more and more companies are evaluating workers based on outcomes regardless of whether they are working remotely or in the office.

Speaking to our Head of Commercial Leasing Elliot Simmons, he said: “The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work and, with it, the office lettings market. We are seeing far more companies leaving communal, serviced office space in favour of self-contained spaces with many companies downsizing on the amount of office space they are taking on due to the number of employees who do not come into the office every day. Whatever the changes to the office market, we are here to help. Whether you are looking to let your office space or find the ideal home for your business, our comprehensive service gives you the peace of mind you need to confront the challenges this new world brings with it.