Employers across the globe report losing key employees due to mandates, with recruitment also being impacted by enforced returns, according to research from Unispace, a global office design consultancy.

The research, which combined the results of a survey of 9,500 employees and 6,650 employers from 17 countries worldwide, found that, of the 72% of companies globally that say they have mandated office returns, 42% now report a higher level of employee attrition than anticipated, while 29% are struggling to recruit altogether.

The study also found that employees are less reluctant to return to the office (51%) than they were in 2021 (64%). Employers also indicated notably higher levels of confidence around talent attraction activities carried out in the office when compared to remote, particularly for recruitment (89% versus 73%) and training new staff (84% versus 70%).

Unispace’s research also showed that 84% of respondents indicated that career prospects would be limited to those who work exclusively from home.

Most business leaders (75%) also indicated that they have increased their real estate portfolio in the last two years, with companies across Asia Pacific reporting the highest rates of growth. This expansion includes talent attraction and revenue-generating trends such as creating hospitality spaces among 44% of firms.

According to Unispace, 58% of workers indicated that they struggle to carry out their core job in the office due to distractions. Meanwhile, 83% of employers say that they believe that the office is set up to allow their employees to be productive.

Employees also put a premium on productivity and personal space, citing missing the privacy they can access at home (31%), the ability to be more effective in a quiet environment away from the office (27%), and feeling more productive at home (23%) as top dislikes. In comparison, employers suggested that the commute was the biggest barrier to getting workers back into the workplace.

Steve Quick, Unispace Global CEO, said, "Employee work habits continue to evolve as we all adapt in today’s rapidly changing work environment. Employers who take the time to understand what their employees need and value most from their office will be more successful in redefining the power and purpose of that workspace. This will drive strength of culture, brand, employee loyalty and wellbeing, and talent retention."