Approximately 96% of companies in India have implemented a return-to-office policy, citing factors such as productivity, team communication, and leadership pressure, according to findings from a Cisco study. In contrast to the common belief that employees are hesitant to go back to the office, the study reveals that 76% of Indian employees responded positively to their organization’s return-to-office mandate, with 82% expressing a desire to return to the office at least a few times per week.
Unlocking the Hybrid Future: Evolving Workplace Motives and Challenges in Current Workspaces
Titled “From Mandate to Magnet: The Race to Reimagine Workplaces and Workspaces for a Hybrid Future,” the study emphasizes the evolving motives for in-office work, with collaboration (80%), ideation and brainstorming (53%), and fostering a sense of belonging (58%) becoming the primary reasons for returning.
However, the study indicates that current workspaces are not aligned with these evolving needs. Employees feel that office layouts and seating arrangements are not conducive to collaboration and brainstorming (64%), and despite a growing emphasis on collaboration, 85% of employers allocate at least half of their offices to individual workspaces. Concerns also extend to technology infrastructure and integration, with insufficient audio and video endpoints (48%) and poor audio-visual experiences (59%) being highlighted as obstacles to productivity.
Office Evolution: Positive Trends in Workplace Transformation Post-Pandemic
On a positive note, the study indicates that organizations are making strides in transforming their office spaces, with 80% having implemented changes post-pandemic and 90% planning further adaptations in the next two years. The primary drivers for these transformations include adapting to technological advancements (70%), meeting changing employee expectations for workspaces (67%), and better enabling hybrid work (50%). Sandeep Mehra, Managing Director of Collaboration Sales at Cisco APJC, emphasizes that while employees are willing to embrace hybrid work and return to the office, workspaces must adapt to their evolving needs and expectations. The study surveyed 9,200 full-time employees and 1,650 employers across seven Asia Pacific markets in November 2023.
