Average weekly - 77%
Peak Day - Wednesday 87%
Low Day - Friday 49%
We have been reporting a levelling off in the last 3 months and it continues. This is not surprising and follows a pattern similar to 2023 and 2024.
Two trends are emerging. Some in-office employees are not spending the entire day in the office choosing to complete tasks at home and travelling during traditional off-peak hours. This trend is not impacting the Index, but it is shifting the flow of commuter travel from traditional hours to earlier in the afternoon and later in the morning.
The second trend, the relaxation of return to the office mandates during the summer is not new either. We have observed this trend before, however, that was when the Index was much lower and the threat of returning COVID meant that the mandated returns did not fully materialize. This time may be different. Through the summer we will dig deeper into the numbers to see where an increase may occur.
Early June data continues to see a leveling off of in-office work.
Your SRRA Team,
Links to Articles of Interest
Experiments with Remote and Hybrid Work Arrangements to Peter Out Within Three Years – Survey
A new survey of Canadian CEOs by KPMG suggests that most – 83 per cent – expect that their staff will be back in the office five days a week within three years, a massive increase over their views just two years ago, when only 55 per cent were voicing that opinion. The driver, according to the principal researcher, is “office culture” and the desire to preserve (or re-kindle).
Foot Traffic in Canada’s Urban Cores Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Trusted data experts Environics have pulled together data from downtowns across Canada and conclude that although more people are coming back to the office, the level of foot traffic overall is still way lower than before the pandemic. In Toronto, where SRRA has been tracking office occupancy for the past five years, showing a steady increase in occupancy over time since March 2020, Environics reports that downtown Toronto foot traffic today is 43 per cent lower than comparable measurements in January 2020.
Did We Catch You Napping? Study Suggests We Might Have
Working remotely in the comfort of one’s home has many advantages, but without the stimulation of conversations and interaction with colleagues in the cubicle next door, perhaps taking a quick nap during the workday proves irresistible. The study by Amerisleep concludes that as many as 60 per cent of Gen Z remote workers nod off from time to time, adding up to a whapping nine full days on an annual basis!
College Park to Be Re-Imagined with Three “Skyscrapers”
In a first for a promotional article revealing redevelopment plans in downtown Toronto, this article sets out a plan for three “skyscrapers” that anticipate incorporating more than facades into the classic Art Deco College Park without bothering to say that the new towers will be condominiums. Of course they will! More than 2,000 new condos, in fact. The article also failed to say how many storeys are being sought during the approval process under way. They will be “very tall.” No office space is being replaced, according to the article.
London’s Office Market Shows Signs of Recovery
Although there is still lots of space available, the laws of supply and demand are being revealed to still be functional according to experts, who reference changing interest rates as a key factor. An important indicator of change, they say, is the revival of rents for B class space.
Energy Targets Likely to be Missed in UK’s Office Market
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) established by the government to require landlords to upgrade their buildings will not be met, according to latest estimates. In addition to costs of compliance in a tough office market, much of the UK’s stock is ill-suited to accept modern standards.
Cat Got Your Tongue? Study Suggests Having an Office Cat Keeps Workers Happier
The original reason for keeping a cat in the office was probably linked to keeping rodents and pests under control. These days the driver may be improved mental health!
“The Occupancy Index is supported by the City of Toronto, Downtown Yonge BIA, and Downtown West BIA. It is a measure of the percentage of office employees returning to the office compared to the number of employees who would normally have come to their offices pre-COVID. For a detailed description of the calculation please contact Iain Dobson at [email protected],”