Viewed from the United Kingdom. In London, offices are changing

Companies go to great lengths to convince their employees to come back to the office. They explain more and more BBC, entrusting specialist consultants and interior designers with the renovation of their premises. The field is growing and they are now called upon “Workplace Change Management Specialists”, “Architects of the Office Experience” Or “Human Capital Specialists”. Their promise is that the office is as comfortable, if not more so, than home. Some recommend using essential oils, others play with sound insulation to denote quiet and friendly spaces, and still others create black rooms conducive to concentration and white rooms to encourage creativity and teamwork. Among other innovations: facial recognition, so every employee gets coffee the way they want it.

In short, the projects are many and sometimes crazy, but “Two out of three companies plan to rethink their campus or anticipate future changes”According to Georgina Fraser, head of human capital at global commercial real estate firm CBRE.

But what do employees really want? First, they want to be rewarded for their efforts. “In London, the commute is long, arduous and very expensive. So, for it to be worth coming to the office, expectations are high. [des travailleurs] higher”, Linda Morey-Burrows, founder of architecture and interior design firm Morrissmith, sums it up. Typically, consultants interview employees directly during workshops and focus groups. Their demands sometimes surprise their employers.

According to Louise Beck, who leads CBRE's European workplace consultancy, the sector has “Nearly exponential growth potential”Companies that retain offices in particular want more than ever to get value for their money, despite rising rents and telecommuting.