Average weekly - 43%
Peak Day - Wednesday 56%
Slow Day - Monday 33%
Managing “In-Office” work and “Remote” work continues to challenge employers and employees. We expect the post Christmas surge to level off while companies who have mandated as much as 60% to 80% “In-Office” work seek to achieve higher employee attendance. The trend toward high mid-week office work is starting to show some signs of levelling, but we can’t tell from the data yet whether this trend will continue.
Our contributors confirm that long commuting times are an impediment to returning to the office. SRRA is working on strategies which reduce commuting times with business leadership, road and transit operators. Should you wish to participate contact SRRA. We look forward to sharing these ideas with Index readers.
Stay well, your SRRA team.
The next Index is scheduled for the week of February 23rd, 2023.
Links to Articles of Interest
Don’t write office work off just yet! U.S. office occupancy reaches 50% tipping point
The strong probability of a recession and a softening of the labour market generally in the U.S. combined with tougher stances by employers regarding getting people back to the office is being reflected in the numbers, according to Kastle Systems. Well publicized mass layoffs in the tech sector are said to be prompting more workers to reacquaint themselves with the office.
Commuting Woes Hampering Toronto CEOs in Efforts to Get Workers Back
Long commutes have never been popular and Toronto’s record on this score has often grabbed headlines for the wrong reasons. Now, as CEOs struggle to persuade employees that being back in the office is mutually beneficial, increasing rates of traffic congestion – significantly related to difficulties accessing and exiting underground parking during rush hour(s) – combined with transit service cutbacks is causing problems for companies. The head of one of the largest law firms is even resorting to feeding a phenomenon known as FEMO – Fear Of Missing Out – to suggest that there are actual downsides to ‘not being there.’
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-toronto-transit-bay-street-offices/
Colliers Canada Report on ‘Hybrid Work’ Suggest Landlords and Employers Struggling to Make Right Decisions on Space
So many threads being pulled at the same time – how are employers meant to make sense of continuing uncertainty, is the cry. Some see space per worker cut back as companies shrink their real estate footprint. Suburban locations and flex space gaining in popularity as employers try to mitigate commuting challenges. Other companies investing in high quality gyms and gourmet food offerings to lure workers (see below also). These trends are playing out in other Canadian markets, not just Toronto, Colliers say. Also important to note that some space per worker decisions already in the works long before COVID, their report cautions. “The pitch to come to the office has to be evidence-based, not just ‘I want you in here,’ says one exec. “You have to explain the effect on the company if people don’t come, and let workers make a choice.”
Corporate Wellness Programs Introduced in U.S. offices to stimulate the mind and the body
Although the motivation might be to lure workers back to the office, HR execs see the longer-term benefit of helping their employees stay focused with exercise and other programs designed to lift the energy level in the office.
More U.S. CEOs Cracking the Whip to Get Employees Back in the Office
Probably a different vibe happening in the U.S. vs Canada but with the third anniversary of lockdown soon to be in the rear-view mirror many large employers are saying three, four days in the office is a minimum requirement. And it’s not just Elon Musk!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/01/30/ceos-will-be-clamping-down-on-employees/amp/
U.S. Transit Agencies Struggling to Maintain Service Levels as Ridership Still Way Down
With federal relief funds coming to an end, transit agencies in major cities like New York, Chicago and Boston are sounding the alarm over budget concerns. Forecasts on the optimistic side see 80% of pre-pandemic levels for the foreseeable future, and that won’t work for most. There are some bright spots like Seattle, but advocates are starting to make the case for why access to transit (aka mobility) should be an enshrined right.
Minnesota Seeing the Shine on Remote Work Fading?
Even smaller metros in the U.S. are seeing the appetite for hybrid work starting to affect attendance in the office. With fewer large employers, cities like Minnesota look to the experience of places like New York and Chicago. Does the same phenomenon exist in Canada?
https://tcbmag.com/remote-work-bubble-begins-to-pop/
Daily Telegraph Reports British Employers Concerned Over Fraud
The ability to work remotely is sowing seeds of distrust between employer and employee say some companies in the UK. There is also a practical concern related to cybersecurity. Shifting sensitive work to the home front places responsibility for ensuring secure access into the gray zone.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/02/05/working-home-fuelling-fraud-epidemic-warn-managers/
“The Occupancy Index is supported by the City of Toronto, Financial District BIA, Bloor-Yorkville BIA, The Waterfront BIA, Downtown Yonge BIA, St Lawrence Market BIA and Toronto Entertainment District 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],”