Comments –

It is clear from reporting that office-based employment sectors are heeding the new Provincial “stay at home” guidelines. During the first half of April, fewer “occasional” employees were requesting access to the office. Pent up demand to get back to the office, though apparent, has not translated into increased occupancy despite the low rate of reported transmission of COVID in the downtown office environment.

Very few companies are actively planning for a return. Early results from our survey of tenants asking, “how much lead time are you planning before bringing employees back” indicates that little is likely to change through May. However, some will permit more voluntary return on a staged basis likely not to exceed 20% capacity once Provincial guidelines permit.

The Summary of the SRRA Forum on the Future of Office Space is up on the website. Stay Safe…

Links to Articles of Interest

Study suggests firms need to pay attention to needs of younger workers, who value the office environment to further their careers, achieve job satisfaction

A brilliant variation on zoom-based working

U.S. firm to focus on monitoring office occupancy in close to real time

How people playing in the big leagues are thinking. Full court press from New York on getting back to the office

J.P. Morgan bearish take on future office space needs

Brookfield’s office portfolio gets ‘seal of good health approval’

Co-working specialists identify trends in flexible use of space (registration required for full text)

UK government partners with co-working giant to establish work hubs in aid of hybrid return to the office

Divergent opinions on return to the office captured in dilemma over sanitizing work space

More angst and cracks across generational lines revealed in controversial survey