Young Londoners Lead the Return to Office, While Older Workers Prefer Home
A new survey by Centre for Cities, a think tank, reveals that young Londoners are driving the return to office work in Britain. This contrasts with older workers, who favor working from home, contributing to the UK's lag behind international competitors in office attendance.
The survey compared work habits in London, Paris, New York, Sydney, Singapore, and Toronto. London ranked second-lowest in office attendance, trailing behind Paris and ahead of Toronto.
Interestingly, Gen Z workers in London (aged 18-24) are clocking in at the office 3.1 days per week, compared to just 2.5 days for those aged 35-44. This trend suggests younger workers are more inclined to return to the office, possibly due to space and privacy constraints at home.
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, challenges the common perception of young workers as "shirkers," stating that they are actually back in the office, while older workers are less present.
Despite the benefits of office presence, including improved collaboration and relationship building, overall office attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels across all cities studied.
The UK government is advocating for more flexible working rights, including a four-day working week. However, only 29% of workers aged 34-44 and those over 55 feel most productive in the office.
Carter emphasizes the evolving nature of home working, noting that the appeal of working at the kitchen table differs significantly from the luxury of a garden office or a purpose-built shed, which is more common among older workers.
He also highlights the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interaction, especially for younger employees, who benefit from the diverse activities and experiences found in city center offices.
With office attendance mandates tightening, Centre for Cities suggests that employers could entice reluctant workers back by subsidizing commute costs, a strategy reportedly adopted by some Parisian firms. Additionally, the government could revive Transport for London's off-peak Friday fare trial to support this effort.
Carter concludes by pondering whether the government, the Mayor of London, and firms can collaborate to stimulate more face-to-face interaction, which could benefit the national economy. He emphasizes London's significant assets, including world-class public transport, deep labor markets, and numerous cutting-edge firms, and believes that encouraging more office attendance will help London maintain its vital national and international roles moving forward.