Remember when a growing number of employers planned to bring their workers back to the office shortly after the Labor Day holiday? The rise of the Delta variant and an increase in COVID-19 cases have scuttled those plans, with many companies pushing their return-to-the-office date back into October.
This change could result in a drop in the energy levels and productivity of employees.
A recent report from Cushman & Wakefield found that employee energy levels have dropped throughout the pandemic. And pushing back a return to the office could cause those levels to dip even further.
In its recently published Experience per Square Foot, or XSF, survey, Cushman & Wakefield relied on insights from 90,000 respondents across the globe. These respondents said that frequent office attendance can boost the energy levels of employees, increase their wellbeing and improve their workday performance.
Specifically, Cushman found that employees who come into the office three days a week or more have the highest energy levels. Those with the lowest frequency of office attendance have the lowest energy. According to Cushman’s report, the in-office energy boost is the result of a better work-life balance.
According to a Cushman & Wakefield infographic on the subject, 55 percent of employees reported high energy levels throughout the day when they came into the office frequently. Just 46 percent of employees reported the same energy levels when they came into the office infrequently.
The XSF Survey found that 60 percent of employees who came into the office three days a week or more reported that they were satisfied with their work-life balance. Only 54 percent of employees who spent less than one day in the office reported the same.
A total of 60 percent of employees reported high levels of inspiration when they came into the office at least three days a week, while 53 percent of employees who worked mostly remote said the same.
Cushman found that 51 percent of employees who came into the office three days a week or more reported that they had enough time away from work. Of those employees who came into the office less than one day a week, only 46 percent said the same.
Of course, the challenge that employers face today is when they can safely bring employees back to the office to help boost their flagging energy levels. Unfortunately, the ever-changing dynamics of the pandemic make finding this ideal time a less than easy puzzle to solve.
