Workplace Tenets and What Occupiers Want in 2025
Circling back on office—these are the CRE updates you won't want to miss.
📅 June 20, 2025
Five years post-pandemic, and the return-to-office chatter is as fervent as ever. While fully remote workers are the most likely to be engaged at work (31%), they may face the all-too-common "infinite workday" and are actually less likely to be thriving in their lives overall (at least, according to Gallup 's May study). As employers/occupiers navigate a diversity of return to office preferences, WFH is still a big draw—but its perks are often tempered by isolation, blurred boundaries, and the inevitable tech issues. (Seriously, why is it that Bluetooth fails only the day you have to present?)
🤝 Every business is a people business
To tap into the occupiers' headspace, we surveyed 235 of the world's most influential tenants. Nearly 80% of firms we surveyed rank financial performance as their top key performance indicator (think rent efficiency and better utilization rates) in What Occupiers Want.
While cost remains king in real estate strategy, there’s a shift rumbling below the surface. Of firms that have changed their reporting structure, 29% have shifted CRE reporting lines from Finance to HR. Yes, the people team—signaling a move toward people-first strategies, where workplace decisions focus on experience and engagement rather than just dollars and square footage.
This trend couldn’t come at a better time. LinkedIn data shows 40% of Gen Z and millennials are willing to swap part of their paycheck for remote or hybrid work options. The deal-breaker for many is simple: lack of flexibility. What Occupiers Want results highlight the value of collaboration and culture, but fewer than 60% of employees feel their current office setups meet these needs. Read more about occupier priorities.
In a tight talent market, your workplace isn’t just where work happens—it’s a competitive edge. Our Experience per SF tool is rooted in psychology, helping occupiers turn square footage into standout employee experiences. Explore XSF today.
Not just a pretty space
Speaking of upgrades, nearly half (46%) of organizations are willing to invest in enhanced amenities, from yoga zones to craft coffee bars, as part of the growing office-as-a-service model. They’re expecting more from landlords—and they’re willing to pay more for it. Read more on office occupancy trends in our Tide is Turning series.
But updating office spaces isn’t the silver bullet if the metrics guiding decisions are all about costs. It’s time to emphasize what really matters to today’s workforce—including engagement, workflow, and, yes, performance.
To win this tug of war, occupiers worldwide need to ditch the “one-size-fits-all” mindset. Leaders have an opportunity to think bigger, factoring in broader metrics like engagement and workflow efficiency. After all, if the office is being redefined, then maybe it’s time we redefine how we measure its value. Find out What Occupiers Want.
🔌 Infrastructure behind intelligence
Hard to believe that AI became a household name really just three years ago with the launch of OpenAI 's ChatGPT. This week alone, Amazon announced a $13B data center investment in Australia (just after news of its $20B investment in Pennsylvania), TSMC began mass chip production in Arizona, and Cushman & Wakefield launched Athena, a new site selection tool—because finding power, land, and cooling at scale is only becoming more complicated (and competitive). Stay up to date on the landscape.
The day LinkedIn stood still While the world debates AI’s grip on elections, Hollywood film production, and the college application process, last week’s ChatGPT outage reminded us just how deep the dependency runs. In fact, John McWilliams expects demand for AI-specific data centers will surpass that for traditional data centers by next year (at the earliest). With AI still in its infancy, there's exponential growth potential for generative AI, Williams said to Nikkei Asia . Costs are rising globally, but investor interest isn’t cooling—especially across APAC, where Japan, India, and Malaysia are looking to be emerging hotspots. Dive deeper into APAC's data center profile.
🔍 Other ideas we're watching...
Pharma’s coming home—but not for the reasons you’d think. U.S. drugmakers are pouring billions into domestic R&D, and it has less to do with tariffs and more to do with tax breaks, talent, and time zones. See Sandy Romero 's position on developments in Yahoo Finance .
Talent, multiplied CEO Michelle MacKay joined Fortune this week to discuss the evolution of the built world, her leadership philosophy and why the years when she wasn’t working full-time were the most impactful of her career journey. Listen in to the episode.
Unequivocally good news Our sublease data has signaled the last three recessions before they hit. Fortunately, this week's 10% reduction in inventory shows resilience reigns. Get the Chief Economist's take.
Infographiste 3D chez Médi-Contract-Group
2mo@
Project Manager | Facilities Space Management & Construction | Sustainability | BIM Champion
2moThere are some really great insights - Derek Lehman, operations should definitely be central to the workplace story, if an occupant isn't comfortable in a space it is hard to focus on anything else. I also agree with Architect Supriya _Creatrix that is is a great overview of the CRE landscape. What stood out to me are the friction points between companies and employees. In the What Occupiers Want survey it showed 44% of companies surveyed have less flexible office attendance policies - yet other statistics show that Gen Z and Millenials want flexibility and are willing to take a pay cut to get it. Employers push for on-site work for culture and collaboration yet employees say they fall short AND employers are also taking advantage of broadening their talent pools by hiring for positions in any geographic area where they have an office. So I'm coming into AN office to collaborate which likely entails getting on a Zoom call with all or some of my team. Priorities have to be realigned to come to a common ground where both business and employee needs are being satisfied.
Helping businesses find waste solutions that save money without spending money, reduce CO2 emissions, and promote sustainability. Entrepreneur | Owner | Operator
2moWhat if the future of facility management wasn’t just about maintaining buildings, but about fueling stronger, more resilient communities? Coffee bars and quiet rooms may look great on paper. But if the HVAC’s down, the trash is backed up, or the parking lot’s a skating rink—those perks lose their shine. Facility managers know better than anyone: world-class workplaces start with world-class basics—reliable utilities, maintenance, snow removal, and waste. What if the conversation were reframed around building thriving communities? The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that dollars spent with local service providers stay in the community at 5X the rate of national chains. Spend $100 locally, and up to $68 stays and circulates—supporting jobs, reinvestment, and infrastructure your building relies on. With a chain? Only $13–$14 sticks around. So as you plan upgrades, think beyond amenities. Look at the ecosystem around the property. Supporting local vendors isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic move for operational strength and community impact. Because let’s face it—no one’s inspired to collaborate when the toilet’s out of order. 🛠️🏢
Lead Operator
2moIt’s providing the 5 star hotel experience; without the cost. Operational efficiency is the best advertising. Amenities are great, but not if they are being cleaned at the busiest time of day for example. It’s the details that go unnoticed when a building is be operated by remote corporate control. I have witnessed how remote corporate control has devastated some national corporations and despite how the rental market has changed, it still continues. Every building is unique, as are the people who maintain and manage them.