Addressing the Mid-Week Mountain

Global trends in workplace attendance have been stable across almost all industries since Q2 of 2023, and it’s finally official; we have returned to the office. However, it comes as no surprise that the way we use workspaces has changed dramatically. The increase in flexible working has resulted in a situation colloquially referred to as “The Mid-Week Mountain”, a phenomenon characterised by a peak in mid-week office attendance, book-ended by a noticeably quiet Monday and Friday. Encouraging a more even spread of attendance throughout the week is increasingly at the forefront of employers’ minds, in order to minimise unnecessary bills or, conversely, to avoid an overcrowded mid-week environment.

Today’s workplaces are now in competition with coffee shops, libraries, and living rooms, so it’s more critical than ever to understand why employees value office space, what motivates them to brave the commute, and how workplace design can best capitalise on these drivers to create productive, inspiring, and well-attended environments.

Why do employees value office space?

In a recent survey by Eptura, employees ranked socialisation with friends and collaboration with colleagues as the greatest motivators for them to attend the office. The survey also touched upon other factors that employees value, such as establishing boundaries between work and home, contact with mentors and management, access to equipment, a better working environment, and a sense of belonging and shared values.

According to the 2023 Global Workplace Survey Comparison by Gensler, employees spend 42% of their time collaborating with others, 67% of which is done in person, so it is critical that offices facilitate these interactions successfully. Within this, there is contrast in how different generations use office space, with Gen Z workers using social and collaborative space over twice as much as older generations. Therefore, in order to attract and retain young talent, social and collaborative spaces need to be a design focus within the workplace.

How can workplace design promote office attendance?

Gensler’s research has shown that 45% of employees are willing to come into the office an additional day per week for their ideal working environment; but how does this manifest in office design? Given that employees rank socialisation and collaboration as the main drivers for them to attend the office, it is now evident that simply designing a productive office space is not enough to draw people in. Workspaces must also offer a great experience to employees. Only 43% of workplaces are currently meeting the mark of leveraging both productivity and experience, creating a significant opportunity for companies to level up and get ahead of their competitors through superior workplace design.

To capitalise on this opportunity, the main focus should be offering employees a variety of spaces. This is critical to both productivity and workplace experience. Of office workers who have the choice of a variety of spaces, 81% report a great workplace experience, and 88% report an effective workplace. Providing areas for collaboration and creativity is crucial, as well as areas for focussed and private work, areas to reflect and recharge, and areas to socialise and connect.

Alongside this, workplace design should also consider sensory choice, for example, the ability to adjust light levels, noise levels, temperature, and quantity of fresh air. These factors are particularly important to understand when designing for a neurodiverse workforce.

Creating effective spaces that offer a great experience for employees is a surefire way to boost office attendance, and therefore level out the peak of the mid-week mountain. However, the benefits of intersecting productive spaces with high-quality, positive experiences extend far beyond this. Firms that combine the two have a more engaged, efficient, and innovative workforce, with stronger interpersonal relationships and higher retention rates.

Ultimately, now hybrid working is standard practice, it is essential for employers and landlords to understand the benefits of improved office attendance, what draws employees into the office, and the role workplace design plays in boosting this attendance. Combining an effective working environment with a positive workplace experience will ensure that companies are obtaining the best from every individual, while promoting a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment for employees.

Statistics in this article are taken from Eptura’s Q3 Workplace Index and Gensler’s Global Workplace Survey Comparison 2023.