Engineering a return to the office for Irish workers is actually quite straightforward, according to a Savills Ireland survey.
A new survey from Savills Ireland reveals that 85% of Irish workers would be willing to spend more time in the office if employers provided the right facilities and amenities.
The figure rises to 98% among Gen Z workers and 88% among millennials, suggesting that the future of work may involve a more balanced approach than the remote-first policies that gained prominence five years ago.
“The survey delivers a clear message from employees: the workplace experience matters, as does the time spent getting there”
The Savills Workplace Trends survey, conducted by iReach, identifies subsidised meals (39%) and high-speed internet (34%) as the top incentives that would entice workers back to the office.
Additionally, mentoring opportunities (28%) and gym access (28%) rank highly among desired perks.
It’s a return … kind of
“We are witnessing a clear shift back to the office, not necessarily full-time, but at least for part of the working week,” said Shane Duffy, Director of Offices at Savills Ireland. “The feedback is clear – workers are genuinely open to this change.”
Duffy noted that while remote work offers benefits, many employees and employers now recognise its limitations.
“The work-from-home movement that gained momentum five years ago was hailed as a permanent transformation of the workplace. And while it has certainly reshaped the way we work, the dust has now settled, and both employees and employers are recognising that remote work often lacks opportunities for connection, idea-sharing, and collaboration with colleagues.”
The survey also revealed significant differences in workplace preferences across demographics. Men prioritise fast internet (38% vs. 29% of women) and gym access (32% vs. 23%), while women show stronger preference for structured activities like corporate talks and social events (27% vs. 17% of men).
Career mentoring particularly appeals to younger employees, with 36% of Gen Z citing it as a motivator compared to just 22% of Baby Boomers. Proximity to shops and amenities matters to 40% of Gen Z workers but only 17% of Gen Y.
For workers in hybrid arrangements, networking and collaboration opportunities (30%) and subsidised canteens (39%) would increase office attendance. Those in fully remote positions are most attracted by free or subsidised gym access, with 37% saying this would bring them back to the workplace.
The commuting question reveals Irish workers are willing to travel an average of 36 minutes to their workplace, though tolerance varies widely. While 58% would commute over 30 minutes if the perks justify it, one in five refuse to travel more than 20 minutes, particularly millennials (23%) and Baby Boomers (26%).
Women demonstrate slightly more openness to longer commutes, with 11% accepting journeys over an hour compared to 8% of men. Geography also plays a role, with Dublin commuter belt workers (Leinster, outside Dublin) most likely to tolerate hour-plus journeys (14%), while just 6% of workers in Munster would do the same.
Industry differences are stark, with no hospitality workers and only 2% of retail workers willing to commute over an hour, compared to 14% of healthcare workers, 10% of corporate office employees, and 9% of education professionals.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, those in fully remote roles show the lowest tolerance for commuting, with 65% unwilling to travel over 30 minutes – significantly higher than hybrid (29%) or on-site (45%) workers.
“The survey delivers a clear message from employees: the workplace experience matters, as does the time spent getting there,” Duffy concluded.
“Employers must now take both factors into account – offering incentives that make office life rewarding, while also acknowledging the practical realities of how far employees are willing to commute.”
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