Peace and quiet or social gatherings? A survey shows that Finns want both at the office

Traditionally, Finns are known for valuing peace and quiet. A survey commissioned by workspace expert Technopolis and carried out through YouGov’s Omnibus online panel in the spring of 2024 suggests that there is truth in this statement – at least when it comes to office space.

46% of Finnish respondents consider the opportunity to work in peace one of the most important things at the office. A total of 1,004 Finns responded to the survey.

As a counterbalance to working in peace, many Finns also need the opportunity to meet with colleagues at the office. In the survey, 38% of Finnish respondents considered social gatherings with colleagues an important part of office life. Among respondents working in an open-plan office, social gatherings were the most frequently selected important thing (42%).

“These slightly conflicting survey results highlight what employees expect from their work environment. From the ongoing debate about where to work, we can see that many employees may turn to remote work if the office environment doesn’t meet their need for concentration. Today, employers need to pay more attention to how well the office supports different ways of working if they want to attract more employees back to the office,” says Jaana von Bell, Concept Manager for Workspace and Customer Solutions at Technopolis.

A similar survey was also conducted in Sweden and Norway. The value placed on social gatherings is considerably higher in Finland than in Norway (22%) and Sweden (29%). Our neighbors consider it more important that the office is located near one's own home. However, the opportunity to work in peace is a more universal need, as it was the clear top choice in Sweden (47%) and Norway (42%) as well.

“The results highlight the importance of listening to employees when designing a work environment. People want a space where they can concentrate, but at the same time, the most important things at the office are colleagues and interactions with them. This presents challenges for employers in designing work environments,” says von Bell.

An extended period of remote work made many employees think in a new way about what kind of work environment is best for them. In just a few years, the ways of working took a ten-year leap forward, setting new demands for the office space. This rapid development has caused plenty of uncertainty in many organizations.

“Both in the media and in our own discussions with corporate management, we can see how much organizations are pondering what the office should be like today. I encourage all managers to engage employees in office design process. Employees know their day-to-day tasks best and understand what kind of work environment supports their work most effectively. In most cases, employees' wishes are very down-to-earth, relating to, for example, having their own dedicated workstation and the availability of bookable meeting rooms. When the office meets employees’ needs, it supports productivity, well-being and the attractiveness of the office,” von Bell emphasizes.

In the survey, Finns are divided as to whether they would prefer to work in their own room at an office (44%) or from home (42%). However, a good working environment is crucial for almost all respondents when it comes to staying in a job: up to 92% of Finnish respondents felt that it is important or very important. The figures were similar in Sweden and Norway.

“An inspiring and supportive working environment that takes employees’ needs into account is a significant factor in attracting new employees and retaining existing employees – and its importance is growing. I would recommend that anyone struggling to design or plan an attractive work environment pay special attention to how the office supports concentration, social connections, collaboration, brainstorming, and rest,” von Bell says.

Survey highlights:

The most important things about the office for Finns (respondents could select two options):

Sampling and implementation of the survey:

The survey commissioned by Technopolis was implemented using YouGov’s Omnibus online panel in February–March 2024. A total of 1,004 Finns responded to the survey, 55% of whom work in an open-plan office. The sample is a nationally representative sample of adult office workers in terms of age, gender, and region of residence. A comparable survey was also conducted in Sweden and Norway. The margin of error is three percentage points on average.