Three years on from the easing of UK lockdown restrictions the volume of office staff returning to the workplace each day is still “significantly” lower than before the pandemic, according to the latest data from Remit Consulting.
Remit’s figures – for the week ending 17 May – show a national office occupancy rate of 31.8%, compared with the UK average over the past 12 months of 33%. The second week of May saw significant disruptions due to the Bank Holiday and industrial action by train drivers, resulting in a sharp drop in occupancy to 26.3%.
The weekly average for the UK peaked at 35.9% in the second week of March 2024, with a similar spike also recorded in April 2023.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays continue to be the most popular days for office attendance, with Fridays remaining the quietest day of the week.
Lorna Landells, from Remit Consulting, said: “Three years since the easing of lockdown restrictions, the return to the office has been a gradual and steady process. The data indicates that, while there has been no sudden surge, there is a commitment to office attendance, but on a flexible basis strong. This steady trend suggests that many businesses have accepted and adopted hybrid working patterns. As a result, the traditional office environment is evolving to meet the flexible needs of businesses and the workforce.”
