Information on investment products can now be found on the website wood.com/products/
In the analysis, you will learn:
• What is the current total area of office spaces in Bratislava?
• Which advantages of working in an office do employees consider key?
• How would employees improve their working environment?
• And what role does high-quality office building management play?
Bratislava has by far the largest area of modern office buildings within Slovakia. The construction of office spaces in the capital has been significant in recent years. While in 2014 the total area was 1.17 million square meters, it has now reached 1.76 million m². Over the past decade, the available supply of commercial office buildings for lease has literally increased by half.
The importance of office spaces for the work environment remains significant even after the pandemic period, when much was said about working from home. It is not only about the increasing size of buildings, but mainly about the benefits that working in an office brings. It is therefore essential to understand which advantages of working in an office employees appreciate the most.
A survey conducted by Ipsos provides answers to questions regarding factors that employees consider decisive and motivating for working in an office. The company Ipsos carried out the survey on a representative sample of 1,026 respondents aged over 18 at the end of last year using online data collection. The results below refer to those respondents who have jobs that are typically office-based, representing 35.9% of all respondents.
Among the most frequently perceived benefits of working in an office are personal contact with colleagues (39.5%) and the ability to solve problems more quickly (25.1%). These two factors dominate especially among people aged 45–65. For 22.0% of employees, a benefit is building relationships and networking with others, while 20.3% appreciate a regular work routine. Almost one fifth of respondents (19.9%) mention better concentration and higher productivity as an advantage. Generation Z, i.e. young people aged 18–24, perceive a reduced feeling of isolation as a major benefit.
The Ipsos survey also focused on factors that could motivate employees to spend more time in the office or feel more comfortable there. For 30.8% of respondents, the main incentive would be higher bonuses and benefits linked to office attendance. Flexible working hours would be welcomed by 28.4%, while the possibility to work from home a few days a week would be appreciated by 22.9%. A more pleasant and friendly atmosphere would be valued by 16.7% of employees, and modernized technology and equipment by 15.0%.
One of the leaders in the local real estate market is WOOD Real Estate, which currently manages 19 commercial properties with a total leasable area of 479,000 m². Bratislava properties with an area of 273,500 m² make up more than half of this portfolio. A large portion consists of office buildings, making the investment group WOOD & Company the second largest owner of office buildings in Bratislava.
“For high-quality management of office buildings, it is essential to stay in contact with tenants and actively listen to the needs of companies and their employees. We regularly monitor their requirements, either in person or through surveys, evaluate the feedback, and gradually implement the necessary measures,” said Martin Šmigura, Local Partner at WOOD & Company.
The company ensures that common areas in the buildings provide space for casual or business meetings. It continuously works on improving these areas.
Offered applications allow for more efficient use of parking spaces based on a sharing principle.
New green solutions. Creating conditions for convenient use of shared mobility options, such as designated parking spaces for shared bicycles or scooters, charging for e-bikes and e-scooters according to tenants’ needs, and establishing a bike cage. Waste separation options for paper, plastics, and food waste. Some buildings or outdoor common areas also feature beehives.
Improved gastronomic services. Organizing food-related events such as street-food and ice cream days in front of buildings, which are highly appreciated by tenants.
Organizing sports activities and events, such as yoga or “healthy back” exercises. For the first time, two buildings hosted a global-format competition called Towerrun – a stair running race.
Organizing health-focused events, such as eye examinations (vision screening), hair, skin, and complexion diagnostics, or blood pressure checks.
Social life in office buildings is important. Organizing events that foster community, experiences, and social interaction. One very successful event is the Summer Cinema in front of one of the office buildings, organized in cooperation with the Nové Mesto district (Bratislava). The buildings also host clothing, book, or plant swaps. Various Christmas events take place as well. In one building, temporarily unused spaces were transformed into a pop-up gallery.
Collaboration on charitable projects such as collections of school supplies, sports equipment, Christmas donations for children from socially disadvantaged families or homeless people, blood donations, as well as donating office furniture, kitchen units, and sanitary equipment to non-profit organizations and associations.
Media contact:
Analyst, WOOD & Company
Eva Sadovská
Tel.: +421 918 761 615
E-mail: eva.sadovska@wood.com
