With many people opting to work from home, does this signal the end of the traditional office? Not necessarily so.
A recent survey of over 1,000 office employees in Poland's seven largest cities reveals a preference for a hybrid work model, combining remote work with adapted office spaces to accommodate new social norms.
"The main conclusion is that people generally have a preference for a hybrid work model," Jakub Zieliński, Head of Workplace Strategy and Change Management at JLL, told Radio Poland's Danuta Isler.
Nearly half of those surveyed expressed a desire to work in the office once a week, he said.
When including those who prefer two days a week in-office, "we have 66 percent of the population that wants to work in our offices," Zieliński added.
Jakub Zieliński, Head of Workplace Strategy and Change Management at JLL. Photo: Danuta Isler Radio Poland
The hybrid work model has redefined the real estate strategies of Polish employers, especially in cities other than Warsaw, according to experts.
Mateusz Polkowski, Head of Research at JLL, said that businesses were using less office space than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added: "We estimate that lease agreements are currently 20 to 30 percent lower in terms of square meters when compared to the pre-COVID times. So basically, companies are leasing less. However, they try to reduce their footprint and provide employees with better space and better offices."
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