American office workers are back at the office at the highest rate since the beginning of pandemic-related shutdowns in March 2020, according to the latest Kastle Systems Back to Work Barometer.

The company's national barometer, which measures occupancy in more than 2,600 buildings in 10 major metro office markets nationwide, stood at 42% of pre-pandemic levels for the week of March 30. The last time it was nearly so high was in December 2021, just before the omicron variant surge caused occupancies to cascade downward.

The long-awaited return of federal government employees to their offices is now underway, a rollout that is expected to have major implications for Washington, D.C.’s economy, boosting downtown businesses and potentially spurring more private sector office use along with it.

After President Joe Biden said during his March 1 State of the Union address that the “vast majority” of federal workers would be returning to offices “soon,” the government is now giving more clarity on just how soon that will occur. In fact, the vast majority of federal workers are expected to return to their offices at least part time by the end of this month, a spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget told Bisnow.

Steelcase research shows younger workers want to be in the office more, but they need more out of the office. Five factors are key to keeping them.

Younger generations sometimes get a bad rep when it comes to workplace perception and now they’re shouldering a new blame: responsibility for ‘The Great Resignation.’ In fact, new Steelcase global research conducted with 5,000 employees globally shows Millennials and Gen Z workers are 65% more likely to leave their companies within the next six months when polled against Boomers and Gen X. Developing a better understanding of what younger generations are seeking may help us improve the work experience for everyone.

Surprising new Steelcase data discovered organizations may be missing an important element when it comes to Millennials and Gen Z workers — the office. Across the board, younger generations have a comparatively more favorable view of the workplace, what it can provide, and why they feel the need to be there. They look to the workplace as a resource: a place with the proper tools, higher level of technology access and the best place to be recognized for possible advancement. One caveat: The space and the culture need to provide more than the pre-pandemic office.

A survey of UK employers and employees gives insight into the lack of provision for remote and hybrid workers to carry out their roles. While just over half (56 percent) of employers admit they regularly check in with all employees to enquire about their health and wellbeing and 55 percent provide laptops, 73 percent of employees are ready to choose their next employer based on physical, health and wellbeing support and flexible technology provision.

The Future of Work survey by Ergotron, suggests that despite 88 percent of employers seeing the importance of bringing IT devices when working in different rooms, almost a quarter (23 percent) of employers disagreed that the provision of the right ergonomic work conditions and support in employees’ health and overall well-being would be a strong asset in talent acquisition. This rose to 43 percent in organisations with 250-500 employees, and a staggering 64 percent of HR industry respondents. However, the finance and tech sectors most appreciate the significance of these factors, with 80 percent of those in IT/telecoms and 75 percent of those in finance agreeing the importance.

The financial commitment of returning to the office has been a shock to the system of employees, as gas prices continue to skyrocket, pushing up commuting costs.

Discover how workplace interior designers can address climate and sustainability issues with new tools and frameworks to make a positive impact in the drive toward net zero emissions.

The latest IDC Infobrief outlines a best-in-class workspace framework and the building blocks to support changing office requirements.

Over one in three (36 percent) UK workers believe burnout is an inevitable part of their career, according to new data based on 2,000 UK knowledge workers. The figure, which rises to 41 percent of managers was noted by UK workers as a natural part of career progression by those who had experienced it. UK employees are feeling isolated at home when part of a hybrid working culture and they’re struggling to balance priorities and establish clear boundaries.

Around 43 percent feel more isolated when working remotely and 42 percent say that they don’t have a clear start or finish time to their working day – there’s a need to implement consistent guidelines and processes. UK employees also waste 6 working weeks each year on a combination of duplicated work and unnecessary meetings.

The study revealed that 62 percent of UK workers experienced burnout at least once in the past 12 months, with one in five (21 percent) experiencing it consistently – 4 or more times in 2021. Women experienced burnout more than men (67 percent of women vs 58 percent of men). And younger workers experienced it significantly more than older workers. 72 percent of workers between the ages of 16-38, compared to 56 percent of those between 39-64.

As many white-collar employees enter a third year of working from home, lawsuits demanding reimbursement for home-office expenses are on the rise.