Reimagining the Office: What the Latest Global Workplace Survey Reveals — and How to Respond

Over the past few years, the way we work has changed dramatically — and yet, in many companies, the physical workplace hasn’t kept up. According to Gensler’s Global Workplace Survey Comparison 2023, there is now a clear gap between how office spaces are being used and what employees say they need to perform at their best.

At Offision, we see these findings not just as data points, but as a call to action for organizations and facility managers everywhere. Let’s explore the key insights from the survey and what they mean for the future of the office — and how smart workplace management can help bridge the gap.

Hybrid Is Here to Stay — But So Is the Office

The research surveyed over 14,000 office workers in 9 countries and found that hybrid work is the new normal. On average, employees spend about half their workweek in the office, with the rest spread across home offices, coworking spaces, cafés, and client sites.

But here’s the paradox: while people appreciate flexibility, many also say they need to spend more time in the office to maximize productivity — ideally around 58%–68% of their workweek. That’s equivalent to 3–4 days on site.

So, why aren’t they coming in more often? Because for many, the office hasn’t been redesigned to support the new ways they work.

The Workplace Is Falling Behind Employee Needs

Pre-pandemic, the workplace was mostly designed for density and efficiency. Today, employees expect spaces that support a range of activities, from deep solo work to hybrid meetings to informal collaboration.

The survey defines five key work modes:

1. Working alone (deep focus, reading, tasks)
2. Working with others in person
3. Working with others virtually
4. Learning and professional development
5. Socializing, networking, and connecting

Globally, employees spend about 35% of their time working alone — yet many offices aren’t optimized for this. Spaces for virtual collaboration, now critical in hybrid setups, also score low for effectiveness in many countries.

Meanwhile, 43% of employees work in offices that score highly for both effectiveness and experience — but nearly one-third work in spaces that perform poorly on both fronts. These employees report the lowest levels of engagement, innovation, and commitment.

A Workplace Experience Gap — and the Desire for Choice

The findings also show that workers want the office to feel like a destination of choice, not an obligation. When asked what would make them come in more often, employees imagined a workplace that combines elements of:

• Quiet libraries or focus rooms
• Coffee shops and work cafés
• Creative, tech-enabled hubs
• Relaxation spaces for reflection and wellness

In other words, they want choice — a mix of environments that match their daily tasks and moods. But the reality is that only a small percentage of offices provide this variety. Many spaces haven’t been redesigned since before the pandemic, even though the way we work has fundamentally shifted.

High-Performing Workplaces Deliver Real Returns

One of the most striking takeaways is that high-performing workplaces deliver big returns for both people and businesses. Employees in these environments are:

• More productive and innovative
• More engaged and loyal
• More connected to their teams and company mission

They also rate their quality of work, speed of decision-making, and well-being much higher than peers in low-performing spaces.

The message is clear: investing in better work environments pays off. But it’s not just about pretty offices — it’s about designing spaces and systems that work together, powered by the right technology.

What This Means for Workplace Leaders

So, what can organizations do to close this gap between what employees want and what the workplace delivers?

The report highlights three big priorities for the future workplace:

1. Align design with how work really happens — support all work modes, especially focus and hybrid meetings.
2. Create a destination of choice — blend functionality with a great experience so employees want to come in.
3. Offer a balanced mix of spaces and services — not just within the office walls but extending to the surrounding neighborhood.

This is where workplace strategy and technology come together — and where a solution like Offision can make a real impact.

How Offision Helps Organizations Meet the Moment

At Offision, we believe the modern office must be dynamic, data-driven, and designed around people. Our integrated smart workspace management platform empowers organizations to deliver on all three of the survey’s priorities.

✅ Flexible Space Management: Offision makes it easy to configure spaces for different work modes — whether that’s focus rooms, collaboration hubs, hybrid meeting spaces, or wellness areas. You can adapt floor plans and room configurations to match evolving needs.

✅ Smart Booking & Occupancy Insights: With real-time occupancy data, you can understand which spaces are used, when, and how — helping you right-size your workplace and spot opportunities to add the amenities your teams want.

✅ Seamless Hybrid Collaboration: Offision integrates booking, visitor management, and room tech to support hybrid meetings, so people can connect easily whether they’re onsite or remote.

✅ Enhanced Experience: From personalized check-in to connected signage to curated space experiences, Offision helps transform the workplace from “just an office” to a truly inviting ecosystem.

✅ Strategic Data: With built-in analytics, leaders can monitor performance, employee behavior trends, and utilization, making data-backed decisions about redesigns, cost optimization, and experience upgrades.

Conclusion: It’s Time to Act

The Global Workplace Survey Comparison 2023 reminds us that the workplace is at a turning point. Work is more mobile, diverse, and experience-driven than ever before — and the office must adapt to stay relevant.

Organizations that take this moment to invest in high-performing, people-centric workplaces will not only attract talent back to the office but will also unlock better business outcomes.

Offision is here to help you do just that — turning insights into action with a platform designed for the flexible, engaging, high-performing workspace your people deserve.