News: 80% of employees demand better work safety and green amenities: Study

Employee Relations

80% of employees demand better work safety and green amenities: Study

Employees are increasingly seeking workplaces that prioritise safety and environmental sustainability, according to new research
80% of employees demand better work safety and green amenities: Study

Better workplace safety measures and enhanced environmental amenities emerged as the leading factors driving employees to visit the office more frequently.

The 'Voices from India: How Will People Live, Work, and Shop in the Future?' report by CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. reveals that over 80% of respondents prioritise these aspects. This trend aligns with the growing corporate emphasis on occupying ESG-friendly premises.

Employees cited increased work effectiveness, a preference for in-person interactions, and a greater sense of connectedness as other significant reasons for office attendance.

About 39% of respondents prefer hybrid/remote working patterns in India as their physical presence was not required for their roles. This was also due to their personal responsibilities and their reluctance to commute. About 39% of the respondents cited health concerns as a reason for not visiting the office, mainly delaying RTO – resulting in employers introducing health & wellbeing programmes.

Work

Among over 20,000 global survey participants, 69% preferred working at least three days a week from the office. Gender differences were evident, with female employees valuing flexibility more due to family commitments and the desire for a better work-life balance, thereby favouring remote work options.

In India, the preference for hybrid work is expected to increase from the current 67% to 78% in the future, aligning with broader global and APAC trends.

More than 60% of both sets of future employees (office and hybrid) across generations indicated that compensation remained the overriding factor in job selection. As we increasingly move to a “phygital” world with limited physical interactions, trust in the company's management has emerged as another important factor for future employees.

Further, 50% of both sets of workers (hybrid and physical) place importance on workplace services and amenities. Hybrid workers also place higher importance on when and where they can work while considering a new job.

Live

The survey revealed that Indians display more flexibility towards moving or relocating than their global counterparts. The survey found that respondents display a stronger intention to move to a new home in the next two years (44% vs 31% in the previous two years). This is significantly higher when compared to both global and APAC respondents.

It is also interesting to note that as most cities in India swell to the beam, the definition of a true city centre continues to evolve. Most leading cities, especially Delhi- NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune are witnessing the emergence of suburbs that in many ways redefine the erstwhile “city centre”.

Gen Z is leading the trend towards relocating in the next two years, with a notable contrast to just 29% of baby boomers showing similar intent. This suggests that younger generations will predominantly drive future housing demand. Aside from Gen X, which shows a stronger inclination towards remote locations and international moves, other generations prefer proximity to city centres.

Gen X, in particular, demonstrates a greater interest in relocating abroad as experienced professionals seek opportunities overseas. Notably, the desire to move to another country is highest in India compared to global and APAC averages.

The survey also highlighted that of those planning to move, more than 70% wanted to buy a house, instead of renting. While India has always been an economy where home buying is preferred over renting, the uncertainty around the pandemic has further accelerated the need for homeownership and security.

With the pandemic having raised the importance of health and safety, the demand for professional property management services, particularly in apartment buildings, has been on the rise. There is also an increasing need for dedicated office space at home as hybrid working becomes more widespread.

Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, said, “The survey indicates that majority of respondents prefer workplace quality and focus space for them to be regular at the office, while specially after the pandemic, health and wellness has become the most important factor for them to consider for frequent office visits. In addition, technology, space design, location, and services & amenities have become desirable factors for the employees at work”.

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Topics: Employee Relations, Employee Engagement, Strategic HR, #HRCommunity

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