THE GENDER GAP IN OFFICE ATTENDANCE PREFERENCES—AND WHAT MAY BE DRIVING IT

Men and women experience work the same way. Experience scores are highest for remote work and lowest for mostly in-office or hybrid arrangements. This pattern holds true for both men and women.

Same Experience—Very Different Choices. Although men and women have similar experience scores—with the highest scores for those working remotely and the lowest for those in the office or hybrid—only women’s attendance preferences reflect this pattern. Men favor the office despite rating it lower than remote work.

Read more in the August 2025 XSF Instant Insight. External Link

Source: Source: Experience per Square Foot (XSF) survey results from Q3 2024 – Q2 2025, n = 5,165

Our Data-Driven Approach

To uncover what drives better workplace experience, we: 

• Analyzed data from 6,000+ employees across 15 organizations in 2024
  
• Used regression to identify which of 35 workplace features matter most 
  
• Quantified where improvements would yield the greatest returns

Key Findings: Satisfaction with top-impact features was low-none exceeded 62%, with an average of just 48%. This presents a big opportunity for targeted improvements.

These insights shaped our list of the Top 5 Workplace Investments for 2025 - not as a one-size-fits-all checklist, but as a practical starting point for making smarter, evidence-based decisions tailored to your organization's unique needs. 

Read more in the April 2025 XSF Instant Insight.

Source: C&W Experience Per Square Foot survey results from Q1 2024 – Q4 2024; 15 companies

More than a nuisance: Long commutes are linked to lower productivity for office regulars

Significant differences in Best Work, Team, and Focus scores drive the dip in Productivity for office regulars with long commutes.

Read more in the December XSF Instant Insight.

Source: C&W Occupier Experience Survey powered by Experience Per Square Foot results from Q1 2023 – Q4 2023; Purpose of Office n = 7,389 ; Supports Office Purpose n = 6,914.

The Evolution of Remote Work Trends in Office-Using Industries

Remote work job postings surged to unprecedented levels during COVID-19, but we're now seeing an overall decline. However, the picture varies significantly across industries. The shift to remote work remains a major factor, though the extent and impact differ by industry. 

This report explores current trends in remote job postings across key industries in the United States, highlighting notable variations. Moving forward, it's crucial to monitor these trends closely. Key questions remain: Will industries align in their downward trends? And how far will remote job postings fall?

Read more in the September XSF Instant Insight.

Source: LightCast job postings data for office-using, full-time, remote employees in the US from January 2019 to August 2024. Cushman & Wakefield

Top 10 Building Amenities

In response to evolving market dynamics, companies and building owners are reassessing their approach to building amenities. Offering the most valued amenities for employees is essential for attracting and retaining top talent, which is in turn essential for securing and retaining top clients in a competitive office market.

We surveyed 1,100+ employees across 122 companies in six U.S. office buildings, asking them to rank 30 building amenities.

Read more in the July XSF Instant Insight.

Source: C&W Tenant Experience Survey powered by Experience Per Square Foot™ results from Q1 2023 – Q2 2024; n = 1,131 representing 122 tenants across 6 buildings. Statistical analysis used to measure employee preference for 30 building amenities.

A Generational Approach to Improve Wellbeing

Wellbeing levels have experienced a precipitous drop since 2019 and have yet to recover. While all generations struggle, our youngest generations struggle the most. In this report, we delve into the primary drivers of wellbeing for each generation, highlighting both commonalities and critical differences. This understanding lays the groundwork for a targeted approach to enhance wellbeing across age cohorts.

Read more in the May XSF Instant Insight.