September 4, 2025
To gain a clearer picture of today’s workplace, we surveyed 400 US–based office decision makers spanning workplace operations, office experience, and executive leadership.
Office occupancy and utilization
In the past year, office occupancy doubled, rising from 30% to 60%. Additionally, companies planning to reduce office square footage fell from 75% in 2024 to 46% in 2025.
Financial firms are filling seats again. Industry-wide occupancy jumped to 60% last year, and Edward Jones is already halfway there with 25–50% daily use. As hybrid schedules stabilize, expect steady growth in St. Louis—yet still enough slack to consolidate underused wings and trim costs.
Track badge and sensor data quarter-by-quarter, then right-size floorplates before renewal deadlines.
Policies and structure
According to the survey results, 46% of companies strongly suggest in-office policies, 42% mandate in-office policies and only 12% let employees decide.
Across the country 43% of companies now run structured hybrid schedules, and 88% give employees some direction to return. Compliance remains the chief headache, especially in regulated sectors like financial services. Clear, team-based routines—and the story behind them—turn mandates into habit.
Publish a concise playbook that links in-office days to client security, collaboration, and career growth, then measure adherence.
Technology and tools
77% of respondents reported active investments in tools like wayfinding, digital maps, and occupancy sensors. AI-driven automation was also noted.
Seventy-seven percent of employers are pouring money into wayfinding, sensors, and AI to smooth the workday. Edward Jones already books rooms and welcomes guests digitally; the next leap is real-time occupancy data that flags empty desks and powers dynamic cleaning and HVAC savings.
Pair low-cost sensors with your space-management platform and surface daily utilization dashboards for leaders.
Office design and experiences
According to the survey data, most office decisions are still guided by hybrid policies and data rather than employee needs. Additionally, 82% of leaders were worried about maintaining their current office space.
Most firms still design around policy, yet the winners design around people. Collaboration zones, quiet focus pods, and celebration spaces are replacing rows of cubes—mirroring what draws staff into the office: milestones and active team time. Flexible furniture and modular walls keep costs down while needs evolve.
Rebalance floor space toward high-energy team areas and modular meeting rooms that flex with headcount.
Workplace operations
Confusion over ownership is a major contributor to policy challenges. Respondents cited the following as “owners” of workplace management:
Office Manager/Workplace Experience: 30%
Facilities and IT Teams: 23%
HR/People Teams: 20%
Department Managers: 20%
Executive Team: 6%
Only 6% of companies say the executive team owns workplace management; the rest juggle duties across facilities, IT, HR, and office experience. That split breeds confusion and slows fixes. Financial firms are countering with a cross-functional workplace council that meets monthly and lives by shared metrics.
Name one accountable owner for policy enforcement and give the council KPIs on occupancy, cost per seat, and employee sentiment.
Measure real use, tell a clear hybrid story, wire the office with smart sensors, design for connection, and put one team in charge. Act on these five steps now, and 2025’s comeback story will belong to Edward Jones in St. Louis.
