70% of Asia Pacific office occupiers to allow remote working post-pandemic
About 66% of respondents intend to allow remote working for no more than one or two days a week, while an average of just 7% of the total employees will be allowed to work remotely full-time.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Asia Pacific office occupiers to review their real estate portfolios, with the widespread adoption of remote working transforming the way companies determine the number of office-based employees as well as related workspace demand.
“While a gradual return to the workplace is already underway in many markets, the shift to increased levels of remote working will become a permanent feature of the office landscape,” said Ada Choi, Head of Occupier Research, Asia Pacific and Head of Data Intelligence and Management, Asia Pacific, at CBRE.
In fact, a recent survey by CBRE showed that around 70% of occupiers intend to allow over 10% of their staff to work remotely following the pandemic.
Although most firms intend to provide their employees the option to work remotely, “they do not expect staff to do so on a full-time basis”.
About 66% of respondents intend to allow remote working for no more than one or two days a week, while an average of just 7% of the total employees will be allowed to work remotely full-time.
This means a physical office will remain essential.
Meanwhile, around 37% of employees still prefer working from office all the time, despite being given the option to work remotely.
“While working remotely will undoubtedly remain an option for some employees, most companies will expect their staff to be able to work across different locations with the physical office being core to develop corporate culture and brand,” said Rohini Saluja, Managing Director, Advisory & Transaction Services at CBRE.
Source: CommercialGuru, 23 February 2021