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Employers risk undermining productivity by failing to meet staff expectations for calm, comfort and customisation in the workplace, according to new research from global workplace creation firm Unispace.
Its survey of more than 5,000 employees across 14 markets found that three-quarters of workers (75 per cent) say noise and distractions prevent them from performing at their best, while 80 per cent report the office has more distractions than working from home. Nearly one in four (24 per cent) say their workplace is not comfortable, and more than a fifth (21 per cent) believe it does not support their role.
The findings are published in A Moment of Clarity, Unispace’s latest study on the evolution of work since 2020. The report suggests the debate over whether offices are needed is over – with 93 per cent of employees believing they still have a role – but the focus has shifted to whether offices are fit for purpose.
Rob Frank, CEO of Unispace EMEA, said:
“The office is no longer in crisis; it’s in progress. We’ve gone from reluctance to rhythm, and the focus now is on getting back to basics. The message is consistent across Europe: give people calm, comfortable, customised spaces, and they will deliver.”
Unispace’s research charts the workplace journey over five years, likening it to Bruce Tuckman’s model of group development. After the “forming” and “storming” of lockdowns and the return-to-office battles, hybrid working has now “normed”, with the focus in 2025 on “performing” – making the workplace genuinely supportive of productivity.
The report highlights a “silent failure”: offices may be open, but for many employees they are not enabling effective work. Almost half of respondents (48 per cent) said a desk or personal workspace is the most important zone, yet also the most underperforming.
Currently, employees spend an average of 2.9 days a week in the office, 1 day at home, and 1.1 days in “third spaces” such as co-working hubs, cafés or client sites. By 2030, office attendance is expected to drop further to 2.6 days per week.
While the amount of time in the office is falling, its purpose is evolving. One-third of employees see its primary value in collaboration, teamwork and innovation, with others citing visibility with leadership and access to tools and technology.
Frank added:
“If the workplace isn’t working, your people aren’t reaching their full potential and productivity is at risk. The fundamentals matter more than ever, and employers that listen now will be the ones that thrive in 2030.”
A strategic asset
Unispace argues that organisations must stop seeing the office purely as a cost and instead view it as a strategic asset. The research calls on employers to invest in the three Cs – calm, comfort and customisation – and to design spaces that can adapt to AI-enabled work, the needs of neurodiverse employees, and different local markets.
