FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
With workers now spending the majority of their time collaborating rather than working at desks, new research from commercial workspace solutions provider, Diamond Interiors, reveals a a major mismatch between how employees actually work and how modern offices are designed.
Findings from its survey of 196 office-based employees, found that staff spend an average of 42 per cent of their time in face-to-face meetings and a further 28 per cent on confidential calls, meaning around 70 per cent of the working day is spent communicating.
Despite this shift, most office environments remain heavily desk-focused, raising questions about whether workplaces are fit for purpose in the era of hybrid working.
The data also shows that 73 per cent of meetings involve just one to four people, yet many offices continue to prioritise larger meeting rooms and open-plan collaborative areas.
Hannah Prescott of Diamond Interiors said: “Offices have been designed around desks for decades, but that is no longer how people work day to day.
“Our research shows that the majority of time is now spent in conversations, whether that is small meetings or confidential calls, yet many workplaces simply do not have the right types of spaces to support that.”
She continued: “There is a clear mismatch between behaviour and design. Businesses are investing in large meeting rooms and open-plan areas, but what employees actually need are smaller, more flexible and more private spaces.
“If people are spending 70 per cent of their time communicating, the office needs to reflect that, otherwise it is not supporting productivity.”
The findings also point to a growing demand for privacy in the workplace. Open-plan environments and informal collaboration spaces performed significantly worse than enclosed meeting rooms, suggesting employees are increasingly uncomfortable holding conversations in open settings.
Prescott added: “We are seeing a real shift away from the idea that open-plan equals collaboration. In reality, people want spaces where they can focus, speak freely and not feel overheard.
“Designing for privacy, comfort and flexibility is becoming far more important than simply maximising desk space.”
Diamond Interiors has put the full findings together in a free report, to download click here.
FMJ and Watco Webinar: Meeting compliance in a new culture of accountability
From January 2026, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) formally separated from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Created under the Building Safety Act 2022 in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the BSR is designed to raise safety standards across the built environment and introduce a stronger culture of accountability, transparency, and proactive risk management.
This shift places facilities managers in a more strategic safety assurance role – far beyond routine maintenance.
FMJ and Watco are hosting a webinar on 22 April at 11:00am to explore what this new regulatory landscape means for FMs. To register for the webinar click here.
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