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Return to Office: UK Workers Surveyed About RTO Mandates

Posted on February 7, 2025

Survey Summary: UK Office Workers’ Perspectives on Returning to the Office

Five years after the onset of the pandemic that transformed the world of work, the dynamics of office life are still getting readjusted. According to a 2024 survey, more than 80% of British chief executives foresee a full return to the office within 3 years – but how do employees view this?

To find out, we polled 400 office workers of private and public sector employers on this hot topic and asked about their preferences and concerns as they transition from remote work back to the office. Here are the key findings.

Who’s Actually Back in the Office?

Our UK survey reveals that a majority of respondents (57%) have returned to the office on a part-time or hybrid working basis at their employer’s request, while 43% are back full-time. These figures confirm that in-person office work has taken over remote work as the new normal, although there’s a substantial shift towards flexible models.

Continue reading “Return to Office: UK Workers Surveyed About RTO Mandates” →

Gen Z in the Workplace: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on September 5, 2024

A team of six Generation Z employees in smart casual attire sit around a large wooden desk having a meeting. Some of them have their laptops in front of them, and others have note-taking implements. The room they are in is well-lit with natural light, and many pot plants adorn shelves along the whitewashed walls. Image at LondonOfficeSpace.com.

Generation Z has begun to populate the world’s workplaces, and business leaders must adapt to meet their unique needs and expectations. This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how to attract, retain, and inspire Gen Z workers in your organisation.

As the workforce continues to evolve, so too must the strategies of those who lead it. With Gen Zers—the cohort born between 1997 and 2012—starting to truly take their place in the professional world, it’s time to rethink traditional workplace norms. This generation is unlike any before it, and understanding their motivations is crucial for business leaders who wish to build a dynamic and forward-thinking company.

Understanding the New Generation

Generation Z is entering the workforce with a unique set of values shaped by their experiences. Unlike their millennial predecessors, who often emphasised a good work-life balance and job stability as must-haves, Gen Z brings a fresh perspective driven by digital fluency, social consciousness, and a desire for meaningful work. There are approximately 12.7 million Gen Z individuals living in the UK, making up around 19% of the population, and this generation is already making a significant impact on the workplace. As of 2022, there were 4.3 million Gen Zers in employment, making them the third-largest generation in the UK’s labour force.

Continue reading “Gen Z in the Workplace: A Comprehensive Guide” →

How Do UK Office Workers Rate Their Return to the Office?

Posted on June 28, 2022

two cartoon figures in front of a large clipboard We conducted a poll in May 2022 asking 450 UK office workers to express how they felt their employers had managed their return to the workplace after COVID-19 lockdowns. Limiting our pool of respondents to just UK office workers provided us with the best indication of how businesses across the country managed the extreme transition between remote and in-person working schedules, as this group was amongst the most drastically impacted by mandated isolation.

This poll found that

54.5% of UK office workers found their employer’s roadmap out of lockdown to be well presented, providing clear direction
27.6% of UK office workers felt they were confused by their workplace’s poorly presented roadmap out of lockdown
Surprisingly, 18% of respondent indicated that their employers had no plans or roadmap in place for their return to the office
When asked to rate their return to the office out of 5
- 46.2% of respondents rated it 4 or higher
- 40.7% of respondents rated it 3 or lower
- 13.11% of respondents indicated that they hadn’t returned to the office

These results paint an interesting scenario, one in which roughly half of UK office workers are happy with their return to the office and the roadmap laid out by employers. Continue reading “How Do UK Office Workers Rate Their Return to the Office?” →

Most Desired Employee Perks for UK Office Workers (2022 Poll)

Posted on June 20, 2022

cartoon of woman sitting at a desk smiling at her computer We asked 450 working Britons to rank a list of ten commonly offered workplace factors and employee perks to determine post-pandemic working preferences. This poll made sure to limit selected respondents to office workers, a group whose previously stringent 9-to-5 schedules and daily working rituals were heavily impacted by COVID-19. The ultimate goal of this poll is to provide businesses across the UK with a general indication of the workplace factors and employee perks most valued after the seismic disruptions of the pandemic. Continue reading “Most Desired Employee Perks for UK Office Workers (2022 Poll)” →

How to Look Clever at Work

Posted on April 23, 2017

If you sometimes feel overwhelmed during meetings, terrified during presentations, and just a little bit slow during your day-to-day interactions at work, there are ways for you to appear smarter. Using a little science and a lot of research, the sociology world has found ways for you to look smarter at work.

Keep Your Language Simple
Think back to the last time you read an email that was laced with hyperbole. The chances are, you found it irritating rather than impressive. A study conducted by Princeton University in 2005 found that those who use grandiose language don’t appear smarter than their contemporaries who keep things simple. In fact, quite the opposite happens. According to the study, when you use overly complicated language, you disrupt the fluency of the overall conversation. Using language that you’re familiar with, and that others will understand, is far more effective.Smile to Look Intelligent
A study published in PLoS in 2014 found that walking around with a frown on your face will cause others to believe you are of low intelligence. In contrast, being smiley will lead them to believe you are smart. This study investigated the traits found in ‘high intelligence’ and ‘low intelligence’ faces. The majority of faces associated with high intelligence carried expressions of joy, and were often friendly. If you usually walk into work with a glum expression, take a little time to put a smile on your face.Be Self Assured and Use Expressive Speech
A meta analysis carried out by Northeastern University found that those who appear self assured and use expressive speech are perceived as being more intelligent than those who do not. Expressive speech involves varying degrees of tone, with passion and no faltering. In other words, you need to be confident in what you say and how you say it. Clearly this doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and shyness or a lack of confidence in what you are saying doesn’t always correlate with low intelligence. If you struggle with public speaking or speaking up in meetings, focus on those topics you feel confident speaking about and take some time to practice talking to yourself at home. It can work wonders for your expressive speech skills.
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A Guide to Company Relocation

Posted on May 19, 2015

Relocating an office or company to a different area or larger premises is an exciting prospect which can bring about new business relationships and increased opportunities. It can also be a lengthy and costly process, as well as a stressful moment in a company’s life for employers and employees. There are a range of considerations that must be considered when moving to a new office, from legal responsibilities to design and layout considerations to employee well-being and relations.

A successful move involves a lot of planning. Establishing requirements and priorities for a new location during the early planning stages will help inform decisions down the road. It will also establish a vision or objective for the move that will guide the entire process. Engaging with affected parties such as employees and clients will also help ensure the appropriate site is selected. It will also help reduce confusion and anxiety that inevitably is associated with a move. As a result, communication with employees, clients and other stakeholders is crucial to ensure a seamless move.

Continue reading “A Guide to Company Relocation” →

Housing for London Employees

Posted on September 26, 2014

Compared to the rest of the UK, London has seen significant rises in house prices since the beginning of the recession. With the average home in the capital costing a painful £530,000 in 2014, many employees living in London are finding the property market is difficult to manage. Such steep rises are also reflected in rental prices, leading to a growing number of city workers commuting from outside areas, or living with their colleagues.

The Rising Cost of Housing in London

Between the start of 2014 and May 2014, housing prices in London rose by more than £87,000. The Bank of England’s governor, Mark Carney, has stated that there are deep structural problems within the city’s housing market, and that an absence of new builds may exacerbate the issue. Continue reading “Housing for London Employees” →

The Importance of Taking a Holiday

Posted on August 21, 2014

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 60 per cent of the world’s workers spend a third of their lives at work, and this makes it pretty easy to understand where the expression ‘working your life away” comes from. Some countries are particularly notorious for their hard-working ethics, and irrespective of nationality, the majority of people take pride in working hard and accomplishing objectives at work.

But is that all there is to life? Certainly not, and this is why concepts like the ‘work-life balance’ have become an important part of our vocabulary over the past few years. Achieving that balance involves taking time off every now and then, and whereas the majority of us look forward to our holidays, some workers may feel reluctant to taking time off. If this sounds like you, read through this post to find out the many different ways in which taking a holiday is beneficial.

The importance of taking time off work

Work plays an important role in our psychological and emotional development. Having a defined role allows us to develop a sense of identity, gives structure to our lives, and more importantly, pays our bills, or at least gives us some degree of financial independence. But if work is so good, why do we dread it so much?

You must keep in mind that there is a fine line between routine, demotivation, and stress. Performing the same activity in the same environment week after week is mentally taxing and it can easily lead to occupational burnout. It is important to note that burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It is a sad fact that many people fail to recognise stress because unconsciously they have learnt that being stressed is their natural or normal state. In fact, many employees dismiss its symptoms and attribute them to ‘being tired’ or ‘having the Monday Blues’. The symptoms worsen quickly, leading to fatigue, irritability, lack of concentration, and being prone to disease. Continue reading “The Importance of Taking a Holiday” →

The Most Sought After Careers and Popular Jobs in London

Posted on January 3, 2014

Being the capital of one of the strongest economies in the world, it is not surprising that London attracts thousands of jobseekers every year, who arrive in the British capital hoping to give a boost to their career by landing a position in the city. According to a March 2013 report published by local London newspaper The Evening Standard, the official unemployment rate in the city is at a four-year low, and currently stands at 7.8 per cent. Data collected by the Greater London Authority show that during 2013, the total number of jobs available in the city has increased by 3.9 per cent when compared to the previous year.

London is also the most popular UK city for graduates who are in search of their first job. This trend has been specially notorious since the economic recession hit, according to the Higher Education Careers Services Unit. But where exactly are the most popular jobs in London and what are the key trends for the near future? In this article we take a look at the most fruitful sources of employment in the British capital and at some interesting data about them.

Finance and banking

With hundreds of financial institutions from all over the world headquartered in London, the city naturally attracts jobseekers who are interested in pursuing a career in finance. The city’s status as a leading financial centre at international level is one of the main reasons why the finance job market in London escaped the worst of the recession. In May 2012, a survey carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research showed that financial jobs in the City were down by nearly 100,000 when compared to the pre-recession years. However, the sector has since stabilised and currently the number of finance jobs available is on the rise. Banking jobs have increased by 3.2 per cent, whereas the bulk of finance jobs available is 1.8 per cent higher than last year.

According to the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, approximately 66 per cent of all graduates who are currently working as financial analysts began their career in London. One thing is clear: the finance job market in London is changing, and while jobs some types of finance and banking are becoming scarce, there are new opportunities in areas like fund management and insurance.

Construction

Construction is a booming sector in London that has benefited from the celebration of the Olympic Games and from some large-scale infrastructure projects, like the Thames Tideway Tunnel or Crossrail, which will require large numbers of construction workers until 2019. All in all, there are nearly 700 ongoing construction projects around London. In the residential sector, there are more than 200,000 London homes with approved building permission. According to the Construction Skills Network, at the end of 2012 there were 260,000 people employed in the construction sector in Greater London.

However, the London Assembly Economy Committee has recently published a report affirming that there are important skills shortages in this particular labour market, especially when it comes to dry liners, glazers, plasterers, and building envelope specialists. These are the areas where the best paying constrution jobs can be found.

Hospitality

London is an industry leader in the hotel and catering industry, and according to some recent reports, the hospitality industry in the capital has outpaced the rest of the country and is showing growth levels that are higher than those of the pre-recession years. By 2020, it is expected that there will be 5,000 new hotel rooms in the city, in addition to the 8,000 that opened up on occasion of the Olympics.

Yet, the latest State of the Nation report shows that the city is experiencing critical skill shortages, especially when it comes to chefs and qualified hospitality managers. While vacancies for front of the house staff and waiting staff are always available in London, the highest paying hospitality jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Retail

Retail is one of the most important contributors to the economy of London. According to data published at the London’s Economic Plan website, the retail industry employs more than 400,000 people, a figure that represents approximately 9 per cent of all jobs in Greater London. It is expected that within the next ten years, there will be a further 75,000 retail vacancies available in the city.

By far, the most popular retail jobs are to be found in specialist clothing stores, which employ 78,000 jobs across London. Next are food retail outlets, which provide more than 22,000 people, followed by outlets selling electrical goods, books, and furniture, in which more than 10,000 people are employed.

How to Deal with Workplace Disputes

Posted on March 20, 2013

Although many working relationships proceed without major problems, in some cases workplace disputes can cause valid concerns to both employers and employees. In this article you will find a useful information on how to proceed and what to expect when faced with a potential workplace dispute.

Understanding the legislation that concerns the management of workplace disputes

The legislation governing workplace disputes has as its main objective finding an early solution to any problem that may affect the working relationship between employers and employees. Whenever a dispute arises, the current regulations are there to help the process be solved quickly and without unnecessary difficulties.

In 2009, some changes were made to the Employment Act to include detailed procedures regarding the management of workplace disputes. In January 2013, the Employment Relations Ministry proposed a series of amendments to the current workplace dispute guidelines and called for the implementation of new statutory codes of practice on this matter. The new codes of practice will introduce modifications to the maximum amount that can be paid as unfair dismissal compensation, as well as outline in detail what constitutes improper behaviour and what factors should be taken into account when negotiating financial compensation at the end of a working relationship.

Types of workplace disputes and how to deal with each of them

Disputes in the workplace will usually fall within one of the following categories: grievances or disciplinary issues. In both cases, employers and employees are advised to raise their concerns informally before proceeding with a formal grievance or a disciplinary procedure.

Grievances can be defined as concerns or complaints that an employee has regarding his or her working conditions, treatment at work, or the application of the relevant statutory rights. There are a series of defined steps that must be taken when raising a grievance, and the details will be outlined either in your contract of employment or in your employer’s human resources or company handbook. In most cases, the procedure for raising a grievance involves:

a) informing your employer about the issue in a dated and signed letter, in which you also suggest what response you expect from them. It is recommended that you keep a copy of this letter

b) once they receive the letter, your employer must arrange a meeting in which you can discuss the issues involved in detail. During this meeting, employees have the right to be accompanied by a work colleague or by a trade union representative, when applicable

c) you should receive a written statement from your employer that describes the actions they have decided to implement with regards to your grievance

Most workplace disputes should be settled at this stage. If they are not and you do not agree with the way your employer has handled the grievance, you must inform them in writing about your intention of appealing their decision. A further meeting will then be arranged, and whenever possible, it is recommended that a senior manager is present at the appeal meeting.

On the other hand, disciplinary issues are raised by employers and concern employees’ behaviour, absences, or their failure to meet contractual requirements and standards. The procedure for dealing with disciplinaries involves the same steps as above.

What to do if a workplace dispute cannot be settled through grievances or disciplinaries

If the issue that caused a workplace dispute persists following a grievance or disciplinary procedure, the current employment legislation recommends that advice is sought from an independent third party before taking things further. The Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has been created specifically for that purpose. Employees who are or might be involved in a workplace dispute are encouraged to speak to an ACAS advisor or to visit their website to find specific guidance on how to proceed. ACAS also provides a free of charge early conciliation service that may help find a solution without needing to go to an employment tribunal. Alternatively, employees that are represented by a trade union can contact their union representative. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau and the Civil Mediation Service can also be of help.

The organisations listed above can act as mediators and advise employees on whether or not they have a right to raise their issues at an employment tribunal. The last step before going to a tribunal would be to involve an arbitrator (usually ACAS), whose decisions are legally binding for both parties. It must be kept in mind that employees who wish to make a claim before a tribunal must do so within a maximum of three months following the date of the incident. Making a claim should be considered the last resort to solving a workplace dispute.

Further information on Workplace Disputes, as well as guides on a range of other employee rights can be found here Employee Rights, Maternity Rights, Equal Opportunities and
Office Relocation: Employee Rights, Office Occupational Health and Safety.