Survey reveals: in-office work is beneficial for both the mind and team cohesion
Hybrid work has become firmly established in many companies, but what has its growing prevalence brought with it? And how does working remotely affect the well-being of employees? The recent “Current State and Outlook of Office Work 2025” survey reveals that remote work alone is insufficient to sustain employee well-being, a sense of community and corporate culture. While flexibility is valued, weekly in-office work plays an important role, the significance of which may continue to grow in the years to come.
Today, working life increasingly requires cognitive skills such as complex problem solving, creativity, continuous learning and interaction with others. A clear message emerges from the responses of more than 1,180 office workers in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area who participated in the survey. Face-to-face encounters create something that doesn’t happen at video meetings.
According to a study commissioned by Sponda from nSight, in-office work increases spontaneous interaction, collaborative brainstorming and social engagement, all of which are essential for well-being, creativity and the functioning of the work community functions. Informal conversations in the corridor during the working day, shared ideas and being surrounded by the work community support wellbeing and strengthen the sense of belonging, both individually and organisationally.
Sponda’s goal was also to understand in more detail the direction in which Finnish office work is developing and what kind of thoughts the topic is giving rise to right now. Based on the survey, nine claims about working life were formed. Fifteen respected and accomplished experts from various sectors of society commented on bold claims about working methods, success, workplace culture, office spaces and atmosphere. Among them were Professor and brain researcher Minna Huotilainen fromthe University of Helsinki and Frank Martela, Assistant Professor at Aalto University.
The break room is the most important space in the workplace
“We have the brain of a social animal, and the most natural thing for us is to solve any problems we encounter together. People are always interested in where they herd is, what it does and what they could do for my herd. Our brains are wired to prioritise perceiving human interaction, and the faces of others provide the strongest stimuli. Long-term isolation from the community is not healthy for our brains,” says Huotilainen.
On-site work acts as a strong social glue in workplace communities
The majority of respondents to the survey visit the office at least three days a week and 73% of respondents feel that in-office work has a positive impact on their well-being. More than 80% say that meeting people face-to-face reinforces this effect.
“The break room is the most important space in the workplace and the reason why people come to work in many workplaces. Building a work community is the most important aspect of the workplace,” says Huotilainen.
On-site work serves as a strong social glue in work communities. As many as 85% of respondents feel that shared moments and laughter at the office make working days more meaningful. 84% believe that in-office work strengthens team spirit, and 75% say the threshold is lower for asking for help face-to-face at the office.
85% of the respondents feel that shared moments and laughter at the office make working days more meaningful
“It is important for a person to have good encounters with other people at work – colleagues and customers. Then they feel a connection to themselves and to other people,” explains Martela.
Encounters are also of great importance in terms of work efficiency. 75% of employees feel that problems are better solved together in the office. 84% believe that brainstorming comes more naturally in the office. More than half report being more productive in the office, and 73% of managers believe that in-office work improves the organisation’s productivity.
75% believe that working in the office supports career development
A day in the office can be conveniently combined with other day-to-day activities
On office days, almost three out of four respondents are more physically active and 57% say they take more breaks compared to working remotely. This supports both physical and mental coping. Learning and development are also more emphasised in office work – 75% believe it supports career progression.
The majority of respondents, 79%, want to work either full-time or part-time at the office. The variety and flexibility offered by hybrid work are widely appreciated. About 54% visit the office 3–5 days a week, and those working in the centre of Helsinki, in particular, are active on-site workers.
The location of the office is crucial: up to 93% of respondents consider it relevant. The most important factors are good public transport connections (87%) and diverse lunch and dining options (73%). Up to 68% also consider it important that the office day can be easily combined with other things, such as hobbies or meeting friends.
82% of those working in the centre of Helsinki consider the location important. About a third of those who work outside the city centre say that they would visit the office more often if the office was located in the centre.
In-office work enlivens not only offices, but also the city and local services
People coming to the office also brings new energy to the surrounding areas. Lunch spots, brick-and-mortar shops and public transport are picking up. Thus, on-site not only influences the internal functioning of workplaces; but also plays an essential role in the dynamics of the city centre as a whole, as well as in maintaining and developing its service network.
“Office workers keep the centre of Helsinki vibrant and support its services. On the other hand, good amenities near the office’s also encourage employees to return to in-office work. The connection between services and on-site work is clear,” says Sponda’s CEO, Christian Hohenthal.
The survey clearly shows that the benefits of on-site work are multifaceted. They range from the well-being of the individual to a sense of community, the productivity of work and the vitality of urban areas. On-site work strengthens interaction between teams and fosters innovation, as spontaneous encounters and joint brainstorming become more frequent. The role of on-site work in modern working life is highly significant, and its importance is likely to increase further as organisations seek to strike a balance between hybrid work and community-oriented working models.