Current status and outlook for office work 2025:
local work contributes significantly to well-being
According to a survey commissioned by Sponda in cooperation with nSight, well-being is supported by, among other things, face-to-face encounters at the office, physical activity and breaks during the working day. At the beginning of 2025, The current status and outlook for office work 2025 survey was responded to by more than 1,180 people doing office work in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
According to the survey, on-site work is the social glue that holds work communities together
Working at the office is considered to promote the well-being of employees. In the survey, as many as 73% of respondents stated that working in the office had a positive effect on their well-being. Up to 85% of the employees believed that laughing and spending time together boost work motivation.
We have the brain of a social animal, and the most natural thing for us is to solve any problems we encounter together. Long-term isolation from our community is not healthy for our brain and it starts to create a distance between us and our colleagues and common goals.
The seven key findings of our study
1. How does on-site work affect well-being?
According to the respondents, on-site work has a significant positive impact on well-being – the majority feel that encounters with colleagues at the office increase well-being and presence supports learning and development.
The benefits of working at the office are widely visible, but they are especially highlighted among young people and those working in the centre of Helsinki. People who have relocated to Finland from elsewhere also feel that on-site work is an important part of integration in Finland – it is an important route for networking, language learning and cultural adaptation.
75%
states that being present at the office supports on-the-job learning and development
73%
are more physically active on office days
57%
take more breaks at the office than on remote days
2. What factors influence the comfort of an office?
Factors that affect the comfort of the office are diverse, but the survey responses emphasise the functionality of technology and equipment, a warm atmosphere and an ergonomic workplace – and the respondents are mainly satisfied with these.
In terms of quiet spaces for working alone in the office, the difference between the current state and the perceived is the biggest. A third of the respondents feel that the current situation in their office is inadequate.
96%
attaches importance to a relaxed and warm atmosphere
93%
consider the location of the office important
86%
highlight the presence and support of the team and colleagues.
We need additional and more functional spaces for quiet work and independent work in offices.
3. How does on-site work affect the work community?
On-site work is also perceived to have wide-ranging positive effects on the work community and organisations. Particular emphasis is placed on the meaningfulness of shared moments, the strengthening of community and the fluency of brainstorming.
In the research results, these factors are particularly emphasised by managers and supervisors. They emphasise the importance of being present at the office in dealing with difficult issues and lowering the threshold for asking for help.
85%
respondents feel that shared moments and shared laughter make working days more meaningful
84%
feel that working together strengthens the sense of belonging in teams
84%
respondents find brainstorming more natural at the office
4. Do you prefer on-site or remote work?
The majority of respondents prefer hybrid work, as variability and freedom of choice are perceived as very significant.
The strengths of on-site work include good team spirit, smooth flow of information, brainstorming and clear demarcation between work and leisure time.
88%
work at the office weekly
79%
prefer hybrid or on-site work
58%
work at the office 3-5 days a week
The most important factors regarding the location of the office include good public transport connections (87%), a variety of local lunch options (73%), and opportunities to combine an office day with other activities (68%).
5. Is the current working model appropriate?
The majority of managers and supervisors are satisfied with the current working model and believe that an office-focused hybrid work arrangement is the best option for the team’s productivity.
Satisfaction is slightly higher among supervisors whose teams do more face-to-face work. They feel that on-site work promotes brainstorming and knowledge sharing.
Here is how managers assess the impact of on-site work:
87%
believe that collaboration is easiest in the office
87%
feel more present in the office for their colleagues and their team
73%
say that working in an office increases the productivity of work and the organisation
6. How do managers see managerial work in the era of hybrid work?
Slightly more than half of the managers feel that managerial work has become more difficult as teleworking has become more common, especially in terms of information flow and supporting and motivating subordinates. According to those dissatisfied with the working model, the biggest obstacles are the team’s preference for remote work and also partly limited office space.
54%
feel that managerial work and management have become more difficult as telework has become more common
7. How does the location of an office affect well-being?
With regard to the importance of the office location, good public transport connections and versatile services are emphasised. Many combine other activities with their office days.
Particularly in the responses of young employees, dining places in the vicinity of the office and opportunities for meeting friends after work are highlighted.
82%
of people who work in the centre of Helsinki think the location of the office is important
68%
consider it important that the office day can be combined with other activities, such as hobbies
32%
of those who work outside the city centre would visit the office more often if it was located in the centre of Helsinki
Current State and Outlook of Office Work 2025 Study
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