FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
New research by Mitie has revealed that over half (54 per cent) of office workers are excited to be back in the office over the festive period this year following two years of disruption due to Covid, with nearly two thirds (64 per cent) say they appreciate the festive cheer in the office even more this year following the pandemic.
More than half (53 per cent) of people surveyed said that they love being in the office to share festive cheer with their colleagues, with a similar number (51 per cent) loving the feeling of their workplace at this time of year. One in five (19 per cent) office workers said they prefer being in the office over working from home during the festive season due to the general good mood and almost two thirds (62 per cent) feel in a better mood at work when it gets near to Christmas.
It also emerged from the survey of 2,000 British office workers, undertaken by OnePoll in December 2022, that a third (34 per cent) of those not currently spending five days a week in the office would be tempted to commute in more to enjoy the festivities. Tucking into treats, decorating desks, wearing festive jumpers, and catching up with colleagues ahead of the break were all listed among the best things about the office at Christmastime.
For office workers not commuting in over the Christmas period, the festive atmosphere and Christmas food are the things that they feel they’d miss out on most. People who do commute in say that they enjoy learning about other people’s cultures around Christmas and listening to festive music while working.
The research also showed that office workers see the Christmas season as a good opportunity to bond and spend time with colleagues at work, with three fifths (61 per cent) of people surveyed agreeing that spending time in the office at this time of year is a key way to bring colleagues together. With nearly half (46 per cent) of people describing their workmates as friends, it’s unsurprising that the research also showed that nearly two fifths (38 per cent) of people think it’s more important to spend time with their colleagues at Christmas, than friends and family.
Simon Venn, Chief Government & Strategy Officer and Managing Director, Technical Services, Mitie, said: “The pandemic gave workers a chance to reassess how much time they spend in the workplace, but with Christmas around the corner, it’s hard to resist the festive spirit the office offers. It’s great to see so many people enjoy being with colleagues in the office to celebrate the festivities. It shows that having a fulfilling work life is as much about having time to come together with colleagues, as the day-to-day role.
“It’s no wonder people love being at work in December when there’s so much festive atmosphere in the office at this time of year. It’s clear that many workers still want the option to work from offices, especially during the Christmas period. Spending this time together as a team really helps build those all-important colleague relationships.”
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