Five years on from the first lockdown, it’s safe to say we are no longer living in a post-pandemic world – this new way of life is simply just life. While many pandemic-driven habits have cemented themselves into our daily routines, one debate continues to persist: the tug-of-war between a full return to the office and continuing to work remotely.
Studies consistently show that while managers push for a return to in-person work, employees overwhelmingly prefer the flexibility of remote set-ups. A 2023 Europe-wide study by Ibec found that nearly 80 per cent of Irish employees would prefer to continue working from home at least part-time – marking the highest reluctance to return to the office among all European countries. These findings highlight genuine concerns that employers of Irish companies must address before mandating a return to in-person work.
The challenge now is how companies can bridge this gap and create an office environment that employees want to return to, rather than feel obligated to. The key lies in understanding the main reasons behind this resistance and implementing meaningful changes that make in-person work more appealing.
The commute
One of the biggest deterrents to office work is the commute. For employees in big cities such as Dublin, commuting times can be extreme, adding unnecessary stress and lost hours to the day. A long and tedious commute often means earlier mornings, later evenings and significantly less time for personal activities, contributing to burnout and dissatisfaction. While some tech giants in Ireland have attempted to alleviate this by organising shuttle buses to their offices, employees still find themselves working from large industrial parks with little to no culture or amenities.
Rather than attempting to manage the commute, employers must understand a fundamental truth about workspaces – location matters. Offices in central, well-connected areas reduce travel fatigue and increase the benefits of coming in. Flexible workspaces like Iconic Offices, which have multiple locations across Dublin city centre, allow companies to choose a workspace that best suits the unique needs of their team. This not only makes commuting more reasonable but also enables employees to integrate work with social and personal activities like grabbing coffee with clients, meeting friends after work, or running errands during breaks.
Beyond convenience, having a well-located office gives employees more autonomy over their daily schedules. Instead of feeling like they are losing hours in traffic, they gain opportunities to enrich their day, making the office feel like an asset rather than an obligation.
Separation of home and work
For many employees, remote work means blending professional and personal spaces. In big cities, where high living costs prevent many from having dedicated home offices, employees are forced to work from their bedrooms, kitchens or living spaces. Over time, this lack of separation can lead to decreased productivity, higher stress levels, and burnout.
A well-designed office provides more than just a desk – it offers a structured environment, free from household distractions. Features such as ergonomic set-ups, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and quiet zones means that employees aren’t just being asked to replace one desk for another but rather they are given an optimised workspace that enhances their productivity. Moreover, the mental shift that comes with physically leaving home for work is beneficial. A change in environment can lead to greater engagement, creativity and motivation – something that’s often hard to achieve when work and personal life are constantly overlapping.
Purposeful collaboration
Nobody wants to commute just to sit on Zoom calls all day. If employees are going to the office, it needs to serve a purpose beyond what they can do from home. This is why flexible workspaces are on the rise among small and large companies alike. According to Workthere’s latest Flexmark report, larger companies (101+ people) and scale ups (21-100 people) now account for 54 per cent of global flexible office members, compared with 42 per cent of members last year.
Flexible workspaces are recognising these changes in workplace trends and are utilising technology to adapt to them. Iconic Offices’s desk booking systems allows larger companies to rent smaller offices to accommodate flexible work arrangements. This means a team of 50 can efficiently utilise a 16-person office, significantly reducing overhead costs while preserving a comfortable and lively workspace. These flexible workspaces also mean that companies have access to a range of facilities that enhance in-person collaboration.
Iconic Offices newest workspace, Hume Street House, includes a 40-person conference room, a podcast studio and a walk-and-talk booth – all of which can be booked by any of its members. Most importantly, these flexible workspaces have carefully-designed breakout areas designed for informal conversations that help build relationships and add to the workplace culture.
Collaboration isn’t just about meetings, it’s about creating space for spontaneous interactions that spark creativity and problem-solving. The energy of in-person discussions is difficult to replicate over virtual meetings, which is why having the right space to encourage teamwork is critical to making office time worthwhile.
Community and visibility
Despite what people might think, workplace culture isn’t dead, it’s just evolving. Employees still value the opportunity to connect with their colleagues, not only for social reasons but also because they know that visibility in the workplace can lead to professional growth and opportunities. While it may seem that people are less interested in events outside of office hours, interest in after-work gatherings has actually increased in recent times. When Iconic Offices surveyed its members, 62 per cent in 2024 (compared to just 27 per cent in 2023) said that community events were important to their teams.
Introducing networking initiatives and lunch and learns also provides employees in flexible workspaces with the opportunity to connect with potential clients or business partners during their workday further adding to the benefits of an in-office work day.
Rethink your office space
Companies looking to successfully implement return-to-office strategies must go beyond mandates and instead create environments that employees actually want to be in. By choosing better locations, offering purpose-driven workspaces, promoting collaboration and fostering workplace culture, businesses can create an office that employees find value in. The key isn’t forcing employees back – it’s giving them a reason to want to return.
Create a workplace your team actually wants to return to. Explore flexible office solutions with Iconic Offices today. Get in touch here
