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The increase in shared spaces could be adding to the hubbub. Many employers have already adapted workplaces to create more social and collaboration space, while 69% have moved to a mix of assigned and shared desks.

鈥淲orkers are now more demanding of the levels of comfort they expect from the office,鈥� says Flore Pradere, Head of Research for JLL Work Dynamics, 鈥渁nd while collaboration is key, we cannot neglect the fact that people still spend over half their time on individual work.鈥�

Too much of a good thing

Keen to create the workplace culture they feel has been missing with remote work, 91% of employers say is their main return-to-office goal. 鈥淚t gives people a sense of belonging to a larger community and purpose,鈥� says Pradere.

Meanwhile, with AI changing the very nature of work, Hendry agrees the office will become more important than ever. 鈥淭he human-centric side of work needs to step up and workplaces will play a vital role in helping us connect, convene, innovate and learn,鈥� she says.

Yet the widespread adoption of video conferencing tools means virtual collaboration still accounts for almost a quarter of all time spent in offices, with at least half of these calls taking place at the workstation, potentially disturbing nearby colleagues.

Employees often just need to get their head down and get work done, and it seems managers are suffering the most.

鈥淲e found that Generation X (those aged 35-44) are more frustrated than Boomers or Gen Y & Z, with poor office acoustics and lack of privacy,鈥� says Pradere. 鈥淭hey desperately need 鈥榤e鈥� rather than 鈥榳e鈥� spaces, to focus on the workload that comes with their managerial responsibilities.鈥�

With managers stuck in the middle trying to keep the C-suite and their teams happy, Hendry says this cohort is also experiencing the most burnout. 鈥淒esigning offices with a diversity of spaces suitable for different types of work is extraordinarily important in empowering individuals to be productive throughout their day,鈥� she says.

This can , as well as using innovative sound-insulating furnishings and surface sprays, plus technical acoustic solutions such as ceiling baffles and wall cladding, to absorb noise.

JLL and EMOTIV鈥檚 science of work study discovered that while noise can be distracting, deathly quiet is also less than ideal. Soundscapes and white-noise generators may be common in offices of the future and some firms are already experimenting with these as they seek to create the perfect working environment.

Closing the productivity perception gap

JLL found 51% of employers rank productivity gains as a key reason for encouraging staff back. But understanding productivity in a hybrid context, what that looks like and how to measure it, remains a challenge, says Hendry.

found that compared to remote workers, in-person and hybrid employees were聽more likely聽to say workplace culture pressured them to prioritize performative tasks that visibly make them 鈥榣ook busy,鈥� above more valuable 鈥榤eaningful鈥� work.

Pradere says employees must learn how to use the new workplace possibilities on offer, so it鈥檚 not just about being back in the office, but back for a purpose.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about purposefully managing tasks to suit your diary, so when I go on site, I don't work the same as when I work remotely,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut employers need to trust their workforce, allowing them scope to organize their schedules productively.鈥�

Being clear about expectations of office etiquette can also help ensure workspace is used appropriately. 鈥淚t comes back to the availability of diverse spaces, as well as designating certain zones for quiet work or confidential calls, to avoid disturbing colleagues,鈥� Pradere says.

Hendry suggests HR, IT and facilities and workplace management teams must work together, to create fit-for-purpose strategies that support better performance.

鈥淚nstead of viewing elements in isolation, it鈥檚 about gathering data, listening to employees and understanding the big picture,鈥� she concludes. 鈥淩eviewing and then acting on feedback will help create dynamic workplace experiences that enable employees to do their best work.鈥澛�