A new survey reveals that tomorrow’s workplace will be quite different from the pre-COVID-19 environment.

 

According to the ‘Future of Office Life’ survey commissioned by Brother UK, 53 per cent of office workers feel more at ease working from home in the current climate. 27 per cent feel it is too unsafe to go back to the office right now, and 15 per cent are enjoying remote working so much, they don’t want to return at all. 

 

However, thinking about the future, 37 per cent of people are looking forward to going back to the workplace, with 32 per cent missing their old routines. 

 

Seeing colleagues in person is the main reason employees want to head back to the office, with 77 per cent admitting they are missing their work friends.

 

The ease of face to face collaboration is another reason, with 62 per cent tiring of technology. 

 

Alongside this, having a proper desk (45 per cent), motivation from other colleagues (43 per cent) and office gossip (25 per cent) are amongst the top things workers are looking forward to.

 

When asked to share their worries about going back to the workplace, it seems most workers are concerned about the commute into the office, with 66 per cent listing this as a concern.

 

In light of the pandemic, hygiene and cleanliness are also amongst the biggest worries, with 65 per cent feeling uncertain about sharing toilet facilities, and 49 per cent worried about the cleanliness of other colleagues.

 

One quarter of the workers surveyed admitted they would feel anxious about colleagues coming over to their desks when back at work, whilst 18 pe rcent are concerned about coming into physical contact with their teammates.

 

Hot desking (62 per cent), along with sharing tech equipment such as keyboards, printers, and mice (52 per cent) are also big concerns for employees.

 

Surprisingly, 42 per cent admitted they won’t offer to make tea or coffee for their colleagues on their return to work.

 

When it comes to lunchtime, there’s unlikely to be the usual dash to the communal kitchen, as 61 per cent of workers say they’re unlikely to use communal items such as microwaves, fridges, crockery and cutlery when they first go back to the office.

 

Other habits that could change include sharing pens and stationery, sharing lifts, and providing treats and snacks for colleagues.