Bosses are currently tearing their hair out about how to encourage employees back to the office. Many have made headlines with their bizarre attempts at blackmail and benefits. As it turns out, the answer is simple: give us a free cup of tea.
Office design firm, Peldon Rose surveyed 1,000 UK adults to ask them what would make their office space more appealing. Almost two in five workers said that free snacks such as a coffee machine, soft drinks, or even a chocolate biscuit were most likely to win them over.
With HR leaders warning that Return to Office (RTO) mandates can destroy office relationships, and workers even quitting over the loss of flexible working hours, the survey is a reminder that, sometimes, a cup of tea is the best peace offering for Brits.
Plants, not pay rises
According to the Peldon Rose research, the number one desired workplace feature for UK employees is refreshments. 37% say it would boost productivity, coming joint top with a free car parking space as the most attractive office perk.
This was followed by meeting rooms (31%) and plants (29%). For the former, hybrid working has resulted in many businesses downsizing in order to save money on office space.
Consequently, staff who turn up to work often find they have limited meeting rooms or desk space available (which would also explain why 27% of employees cited that specifically allocated desks would be most likely to get them into the office).
| Rank | Perk | % who think this would make the office more appealing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refreshments (eg. free tea, coffee, and soft drinks) | 37% |
| 1 | Car parking | 37% |
| 2 | Meeting rooms | 31% |
| 3 | Plants | 29% |
| 4 | Personal storage | 28% |
| 5 | Allocated desk space | 27% |
| 5 | Breakout space | 27% |
| 5 | Ergonomic office setup | 27% |
| 5 | Private kitchen | 27% |
| 6 | Access to a gym | 25% |
Bottom of the list of most desired perks is access to a gym. However, gym membership programs, such as a GymPass subsidy, can be fairly cheap for employers. And 25% of employees still said this would entice them to come into the office.
Office living beyond your means
Overall, the Peldon Rose data found that 56% of UK workers think their current office does not meet their needs, and 61% wish for a better atmosphere.
For cash-strapped firms, the idea of upgrading to a flashy new space might sound daunting. But the poll suggests that a revamp doesn’t have to cost the Earth.
In fact, a few potted plants and metal lockers would be considerably more cost-efficient and employee-friendly than many of the policies that companies have already implemented as part of an RTO mandate.
That includes Manchester United FC, which threatened to make staff redundant if they did not start clocking in at HQ. Or Dell, which said it would punish remote workers by withholding promotions or positive performance reviews from them.
Other, less ethically dubious policies include the companies that have offered a £17,000 pay rise to in-office workers. Or those who have offered to fund their employees’ commutes.
In comparison to these million-pound spending sprees, a packet of Penguin bars and some tea bags looks like a bargain (even if a box of Tetley is getting more expensive).
Ask, don’t tell
The Peldon Rose data should be taken with a pinch of salt. Workers have quickly grown attached to the improved work-life balance that flexible working brings them, and it will take more than a cappuccino to get remote radicals back to the office.
That said, the survey does provide valuable lessons for those seeking to implement an RTO. If office attendance is falling, it’s important not to jump straight to disciplinary action.
Steps as simple as restocking the snack jar could prove more effective than a flashy refurbishment or a wacky employee perk that no-one actually requested.
Leeson Medhurst, Head of Strategy at Peldon Rose, has some simple advice for bosses who want to find out what staff want from an office. Ask them.
“The best way to understand what will motivate employees to come into the office is to ask them directly,” he advises. “Gathering feedback through surveys or conversations can create a space where employees genuinely want to spend their time.”
Find out about 50+ employee benefits (big and small) that you can roll out at your office to improve attendance and boost productivity.
