Workplace wellbeing still missing the mark

As more companies advocate for a return to office-based work, employees have a message for their leaders: they’re missing the mark when it comes to wellbeing.

JLL’s Human Experience research shows that 8 out of 12 wellbeing factors in the office ranging from nutrition to flexibility are not meeting employees’ expectations. And with almost two-out-of-three employees citing their commute as the top factor making it harder to work in the office, the challenge starts long before they enter the building.

“Office experience sentiment has become more negative over the last 12 months as firms increasingly mandate attendance,” says Victoria Mejevitch, Head of Global Benchmarking Services at JLL. “As well as the cost and time of the commute, it’s still basic experience elements such as temperature, noise, lack of focus space and limited food choices that are causing issues.”

Make no mistake, the momentum is firmly shifting to more time in the office. Four in 10 firms would like employees in five days a week, according to JLL's Future of Work research. Even for companies with hybrid setups, 43% expect the number of days in the office to increase by 2030.

But when looking at the return-to-office trend together with the dip in employee sentiment, it means companies need to be rethinking how their workplaces are supporting wellbeing. Read on for some of the solutions organizations are putting in place.

When it comes to keeping people happy and productive, it seems the way to the workforce’s heart is through their stomachs. Staff restaurants and cafés are now the top two most important office amenities, the JLL research shows.

Yet satisfaction with nutrition has dropped ten spots since 2023 to become the worst-performing aspect of workplace experience.

Mejevitch points out that people had more control over their diet when working from home.

"As people return to the office, food quality and variety have become more important, particularly for younger workers who spend more time on-site but often bring lunch in to save money," she says.

With most social activity between colleagues built around grabbing lunch or a coffee together, Mejevitch says investing in subsided canteens and a range of well-balanced, tasty snacks can pay dividends for employee satisfaction and company culture.

Three quarters of firms say collaboration is the main reason for calling staff back, with 41% believing it will improve productivity. But aggressively repurposing space from fixed desk “me space” to collaborative “we space” has produced some unexpected challenges.

“Employees still spend half their time in the office on focused work – but the lack of bookable focus spaces means they’re struggling with distractions,” says Mejevitch.

What’s more, JLL found employees globally have 14 meetings per week, on average, and three quarters feature a mix of in person and face-to-face participants. Yet noise from those dialling in from their desks can be a stress point for nearby colleagues.

“Employers are once again having to rethink the balance and mix of spaceto ensure that staff can remain productive,” says Mejevitch.

After all those meetings, it seems outside is where it’s at. Courtyards, roof gardens, green space and terraces remain in demand and are highly valued for mental wellness and productivity benefits.

In fact, offices featuring enhanced outdoor space regularly generate rent premiums of more than 5%, such is their popularity.

“The pace of office life means it can be unrealistic to take an hour for a scheduled yoga class,” says Mejevitch. “People much prefer access to greenery, fresh air and somewhere to relax and recharge for a few minutes between meetings and calls.”

It’s why global health and nutrition firm Reckitt added five garden meeting pods with interlinking decking, mature trees and pergolas, when they redesigned their UK headquarters in Slough.

And despite fitness becoming central to many employee routines in the hybrid era, firms frequently find amenities such as onsite gyms, meditation and workout rooms are under-utilized.

Mejevitch says this is partly due to staff wanting to separate their professional and personal lives.

“People can feel self-conscious getting sweaty or wearing Lycra in front of colleagues,” she says. Discounted gym memberships may be valued more highly by those wanting to keep fit on their own terms.

Looking ahead, Mejevitch says secondary, more compact locations could help the workforce thrive.

Cities considered tier two office markets, such as Dallas or Miami in the U.S. or Malaga in Spain, have recently attracted financial services and technology firms respectively, for their quality of life and shorter commutes.

Her final tip is on supporting a largely unmet need: "Employees have indicated they would highly value access to on-site or nearby healthcare services, reducing time off for routine medical needs or prescriptions.”

Enhance your decision-making with market comparisons and find out more about workplace trends with Global Benchmarking Services.