Outside of Mecklenburg

RETURN TO THE OFFICE SURVEY

About 80% of 22%
Overview
respondents were from
Mecklenburg County, with the
highest response rates within
Uptown (30), and South Charlotte
(13). About 20% of respondents Top 5 Industries Represented
were from outside of Mecklenburg,
with the highest response rates
within Fort Mill/Indian Land,
SC (11). 13
12 12
Mecklenburg

# of Responses
11 11
78%

Less than 10
250 plus 17%
27%

Professional, Manufacturing Finance and Real Estate and Educational

Respondents were well
Scientific, and Insurance Rental and Leasing Services
distributed by the number of
full-time employees they had. Technical Services
Slightly more than half reported
having more than 50 employees, 10-49 The survey targeted office users who had workers who could work remotely. About 88% of respondents
and about 10% had more than 26% had workers who could work remotely. 13 industries were represented among respondents and the graph
500. above highlights the top 5 most common industries.

50-249
30%
(N=89) Collected June 2021
 SHARE OF THE WORKFORCE WORKING IN THE OFFICE FULL-TIME

90%

80%

70%

60%
% of Respondents

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
0-20% 30-40% 50-60% 70-80% 90-100%
% Working in the Office Full-Time

Pre-COVID Current Post-COVID

About 80% of respondents had at least 90% of their employees working in the office full-time pre-COVID. Currently, only about 30% of respondents have 90% or
more of their employees in the office full-time, and only 40% expect to have at least 90% of employees back in the office-full-time in the post-COVID environment.
This signals a shift toward more hybrid work models in the Region.
 SHARE OF THE WORKFORCE WORKING FROM HOME FULL-TIME

100%

90%

80%

70%
% of Respondents

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
0-20% 30-40% 50-60% 70-80% 90-100%
% Working from Home Full-Time

Pre-COVID Current Post-COVID

While the share of respondents who had over 20% of their workforce working from home full-time increased during COVID-19, about 90% of respondents expect 20%
or less of their workforce to work remotely full-time in the Post-COVID environment. This indicates that full-time working from home will be less significant in the
region than hybrid models and full-time working in the office.
 SHARE OF THE WORKFORCE WORKING IN A HYBRID/FLEXIBLE MODEL

90%

80%

70%

60%
% of Respondents

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
0-20% 30-40% 50-60% 70-80% 90-100%
% Working in a Hybrid/Flexible Model

Pre-COVID Current Post-COVID

Pre-COVID, a small minority of respondents had more than 20% of their workforce on a hybrid work model. However, about 50% expect to have more than 20% of
their workforce in a hybrid work model in the post-COVID environment.
 HAVE YOU MADE OR ARE YOU PLANNING ANY CHANGES TO YOUR OFFICE
FOOTPRINT OVER THE NEXT YEAR?

6% Reduction > 50%

Reduction 25 - 50%
7%
Reduction < 25%
3% 70%
No Change
1%
Increase < 25%
5%
Increase 25-50%
8% Increase > 50%

Despite an expected increase in hybrid work models, only about 16% of respondents have made a reduction in their office footprint or plan to over the next year.
 EXPECTED DATE IN WHICH 50% OF ALL OFFICE EMPLOYEES RETURN TO THE
OFFICE FULL-TIME AND/OR IN A HYBRID ENVIRONMENT AND RESUME BUSINESS
TRAVEL
50%

40%
% of Respondents

30%

20%

10%

0%
We have already July, 2021 August, 2021 September, 2021 October, 2021 November, 2021 December, 2021 January 2022, We don’t expect Not sure yet
resumed at or later to resume at
least 50% least 50%
Return to the Office Business Related Travel

Most respondents have already had 50% of all office employees return to the office full-time or in a hybrid environment. For those who have not, September is the most
common expected date. Respondents indicated more hesitation around business travel, with about 1/3 of respondents either not sure or expecting January 2022 or later
to resume 50% of business travel.
 INDICATORS INFORMING WHEN RESPONDENTS ARE BRINGING BACK
EMPLOYEES TO THE OFFICE

Change in government guidelines

Number of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 in the region

Comfort level of staff to return

Percentage of the population that is vaccinated in the region

Implementation of office changes to allow accommodating COVID-19 precautions

Other businesses deciding to return to the office

Other

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Changes in government guidelines, key indicators on the spread of the virus in the region, and comfort level of staff were the most common indicators informing bringing
all employees back to the office.
 PRIMARY REASONS FOR INCREASING PRIMARY REASONS FOR MAINTAINING
REMOTE WORK THE PERCENTAGE OF IN-OFFICE WORK

Staff retention Workplace culture

Staff attraction Better teamwork

Reduced costs Meeting with clients

Increased productivity Increased productivity

Other Other

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

% of Respondents % of Respondents

Staff retention and staff attraction were the most important reasons for Workplace culture and better teamwork were the largest drivers for
increasing remote work. This aligns with shifting employee preferences maintaining in-office work. Mentoring and accessibility to resources
and fierce competition for talent. Safety and productivity were “other” with “other” reasons given.
reasons given.