Hybrid Work

Blueprint for a Better Office

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A workplace can look great. But what really defines a good day is whether it helps people get work done. Yet new Steelcase research in 9 countries reveals that many workplace improvements aren’t landing where they matter most.

Employees identify 4 critical gaps holding the office back. Targeted improvements in these areas, even subtly at first, can make a meaningful difference right away.

Blueprint for a Better Office

The obligation office

Globally, the number #1 reason people say they go to the office isn’t to do their best work — it’s because they’re required to.

Graphic showing the top five reasons people work in the office: work requirements, focus, collaboration, access to tools and technology, and sense of belonging.

The office needs to support what matters

One likely reason why: across the board, people are not happy with how their spaces support what they think is most important. Gaps are sizable and have a real impact.

Workplace experience chart showing employee needs for focus, collaboration, learning, rejuvenation, and socialization compared with current satisfaction levels.

Enhancing spaces to address 4 specific gaps — wellbeing, focus, screen time and privacy — significantly improves how people feel about the workplace.

1. Address wellbeing: The biggest need

When asked what they most want improved in the office, employees overwhelmingly cite wellbeing as their #1 request. Data show the biggest boosts to wellbeing come from improving a range of spaces for focus, collaboration and connection.

Workplace wellbeing statistics showing that 46% of employees consider wellbeing a top workplace priority, only 17% are satisfied with wellbeing spaces, and access to wellbeing spaces can increase office satisfaction by 26%.

 

2. Fix focus

On average, people spend two-thirds of their day working alone, yet they are not happy with the spaces they have available for focus work.

Workplace privacy statistics showing that 40% of employees are dissatisfied with access to focus spaces, 54% lack access to individual enclosed spaces, and workplace satisfaction doubles when employees have access to private enclosed spaces.

 

3. Manage the screen effect

Screens now dominate the workday, with people reporting 71% of their screen time is spent alone. And too much screen time leads to lower engagement.

Workplace engagement statistic showing that employee engagement drops by 12% when people spend 80% or more of their work time alone on screens.

4. Add more pivacy

Privacy is key to addressing wellbeing, focus and screen time.

Workplace privacy statistic showing that 58% of employees cannot get privacy when they need it in the office.

 
Employees point to a range of privacy needs beyond being able to just shut a door.

Chart showing the percentage of employees who lack workplace privacy: 52% lack acoustic privacy, 48% lack visual privacy, and 40% lack territorial privacy.

 

What People Need

Early signals point to a powerful lever most people don’t have — access to a variety of spaces (3 or more) that support different kinds of work. And those who do, report higher levels of:

 
+14% Higher engagement

+16% Stronger sense of community

+13% Improved wellbeing

 

The message is clear. When workplaces support how people actually work in different ways throughout the day, people perform better and feel better. And that’s what turns the office into a place people want to be.

Data Source:
Steelcase Global Employee Research December 2025

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