Most Irish Workers Would Make Office Return With Sufficient Inducements

The findings of the Savills Workplace Trends survey, highlight the top factors influencing office attendance, from subsidised meals (39pc) and fast internet (34pc) to mentoring opportunities (28pc) and gym access (28pc).

The survey also revealed that Irish workers are willing to commute an average of 36 minutes to their workplace, though this limit varies significantly depending on industry, age, and current work arrangements.

Shane Duffy, Director of Offices at Savills Ireland commented on the findings:

“We are witnessing a clear shift back to the office, not necessarily full-time, but at least for part of the working week. The feedback is clear – workers are genuinely open to this change. The work-from-home movement that gained momentum five years ago was hailed as a permanent transformation of the workplace. And while it has certainly reshaped the way we work, the dust has now settled, and both employees and employers are recognising that, while remote work has its benefits, it often lacks opportunities for connection, idea-sharing, and collaboration with colleagues. Moreover, working from home can be filled with distractions. Many workers still value having a dedicated workspace where collaboration and focus can truly flourish.

What’s more, many workers are open to commuting, with a realistic understanding of the time commitment involved. In fact, 3 in 10 are willing to commute for up to 45 minutes, while an additional 2 in 10 would commute for up to an hour. This means that half of the workforce is comfortable with commuting for what could be considered a reasonable amount of time, which further indicates acceptance of office-based work as part of a balanced work routine”.

What Would Bring Workers Back to the Office?

The survey highlights that while workers appreciate in-office benefits, preferences have been heavily influenced by gender, age, and current workplace arrangements:

• More men (38pc) than women (29pc) prioritise fast internet and gym access (32pc vs 23pc respectively) and office facilities like showers (27 vs 15pc).
• More women (27pc) than men (17pc) value structured activities.
• Career mentoring appeals most to younger employees in terms of what might drive them into the office (36pc of Gen Z vs. 22pc of Boomers).
• While 40pc Gen Z care about nearby shops & amenities, just 17pc of Gen Y feel the same.
• The appeal of a gym offering declines with age.
• 30pc of those currently hybrid working say they would be drawn back to the office if there are more networking and collaboration opportunities on-site.
• 39pc of those hybrid would be attracted by a subsidised canteen offering… this is less appealing to those already fully remote – 28pc.
• Free or subsidised gym access is the most popular incentive to those fully remote – 37pc said this would bring them back to the workplace.

Commuting: The Ultimate Dealbreaker?

While 58pc of workers are willing to commute over 30 minutes, the survey reveals a sharp divide in tolerance levels:

• The average maximum commute is 36 minutes.
• In general, 30pc of workers said they would cap their limit at 45 minutes.
• 1 in 5 workers refuse to commute more than 20 minutes, particularly millennials (23pc) and Boomers (26pc).
• Women are slightly more open to long commutes, with 11pc accepting over an hour, compared to 8pc of men.
• Dublin commuter belt workers (Leinster, outside Dublin) are the most likely to tolerate a 1+ hour journey (14pc), while only 6pc in Munster would do the same.
• Those in fully remote roles have the lowest tolerance, with 65pc refusing to travel over 30 minutes - far higher than hybrid (29pc) or on-site (45pc) workers.
• Industry-Specific Trends.
• Hospitality and retail workers reject long commutes, with 0pc in hospitality and just 2pc in retail willing to travel over an hour.
• Healthcare (14pc) and corporate office (10pc) employees and those in an education setting (9pc) are the most willing to endure a 1+ hour commute.

Duffy concluded:

"The survey delivers a clear message from employees: the workplace experience matters, as does the time spent getting there. Employers must now take both factors into account – offering incentives that make office life rewarding, while also acknowledging the practical realities of how far employees are willing to commute."