Why is it so important for businesses to return to the office?

Last week,  Insurance Journal reported that workers in London’s financial services industry are returning to their desks “in droves”, with the lower floors of  HSBC Holdings Plc’s Canary Wharf headquarters noticeably filling up.

It’s a clear sign that the finance industry’s return to the office is gathering pace.

Pret a Manger boss Pano Christou has also voiced his optimism about trading in city centres, after employees returning to offices in the first week of September drove a 15 per cent sales uplift in just seven days.  

Christou said sales at his sandwich shops in city centres have returned to about 80% of pre-pandemic levels. 

Incentivising employees to return to the office

Some business owners have even been contemplating pay cuts for employees who choose to work from home on a full time basis. 

A recent survey by recruitment firm Hays of more than 22,700 companies discovered that 11 per cent of London’s employers have dropped – or plan to remove – the London weighting allowance on salaries for remote workers.

The notion that employees who choose to work from home should be paid less than their in-office counterparts is a contentious one.

Staff at Google who choose to work from home permanently could lose out on pay, Reuters reported in August. One employee said they’d get a 10% pay cut by WFH, according to estimates by the company’s Work Location Tool, which launched in June.  

It’s easy to understand why employers are keen to get people back into the office. But are pay cuts really the answer?

They don’t have to be. And even if a UK employer wanted to pay staff differently if they chose to work from home, employment law wouldn’t necessarily permit them to do so. 

The moral argument for returning to the office

We believe that businesses have a moral obligation to entice employees back to the office. Offices encourage positive mental wellbeing, facilitate mentorship, and act as supportive hubs for both growing and established businesses across a variety of sectors. 

You only have to glance at Pret’s figures to see that by returning to the office, businesses are also helping other parts of the economy to recover post-Covid.

But what about employees who are reluctant to return?

Instead of threatening to penalise employees who want to continue working from home full-time, employers can make the prospect of returning to the office an enticing one by choosing a location that’s commutable, amenity-rich and conducive to productivity. 

In July, we helped Sophia Littledale, Founder and Creative Director of the creative agency Favola, secure a new office space at WeWork in Holborn.

Sophia says her search for a new workspace was motivated by “the desire to find a fantastic new office in central London, coupled with the fact that we all had WFH fatigue.”

“WeWork in Holborn has a fantastic central location, which makes it easy for everyone to travel to. Plus, it’s nearby to a number of our clients,” she says. 

“The office itself is modern, spacious and well-designed, with a large number of meeting rooms and phone booths for pandemic-friendly Teams/Zoom calls. 

“WeWork also provides great perks, such as breakfast clubs, pizza nights and beer/prosecco taps. Perfect for those after-work socials.”

Flexible workspaces offer the ideal solution 

Importantly, employers should continue to exercise flexibility. 

Instead of insisting on an immediate full-time return to the office, Sophia consulted with her employees before making a decision. Hybrid working emerged as the preferred choice. 

Favola’s employees are currently working from the office three days a week and remotely, from home, for two days of the working week. 

“WFH is absolutely possible…however, what the office gives you is human interaction and that’s invaluable.” – Sophia Littledale, Founder and Creative Director, Favola

For businesses like Sophia’s, moving back into a collaborative environment makes perfect sense. Although working from home full-time can be a convenient option when necessary, such as during lockdowns, it isn’t always viable in the longer-term. 

Favola spends a lot of time strategizing and brainstorming creative ideas. 

While Zoom can facilitate remote meetings, it isn’t as effective as face-to-face collaboration, where “you can easily bounce ideas off each other, share inspiration and develop concepts. It’s a more organic and less stilted way of working.” 

Like a growing number of business owners, Sophia believes in the future of the office. 

“WFH is absolutely possible, the past 18 months have proven that. However, what the office gives you is human interaction and that’s invaluable. 

“It’s the ability to learn closely from one another, to onboard new starters, to give and receive feedback more humanely and to have a laugh during impromptu moments. 

“Fundamentally, it’s essential for creative industries such as ours and imperative for team morale. We certainly don’t believe the hype that the office is dead.”

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If you’re looking to bring your team back to the office, either full-time or on a hybrid basis, get in touch today. We’ll match you with a workspace with flexible terms and amenities.