New survey: Employees still reluctant to give up remote work

Did the COVID pandemic change the world of office work forever? For many companies, it appears so.

Just look at the latest research from Yardi Kube. In a survey published this October, Yardi Kube asked employees who are currently searching for coworking spaces about their work habits. According to survey, 54% of those employees who are searching for coworking space work fully remote. Another 23% said that they work on a hybrid schedule, logging some days in the office each week and others remotely.

A total of 41% of employees surveyed by Yardi Kube said that they would not consider a job that didn’t offer them the chance to work fully remote. Another 30% said that they would only take such a job if it came with substantial financial or career incentives. A smaller percentage, 11%, said that they were actively seeking to return to full onsite work.

This survey isn’t indicative of the general workforce, of course. Yardi Kube’s survey only focused on workers who are now seeking coworking space. Such workers are more likely to already be working remotely.

The survey doesn’t focus on workers who have little choice but to work onsite, either. Teachers, medical professionals, laborers, service-industry employees and others don’t have the luxury of working remotely.

Still, the survey does show that the days of most office workers logging five days a week onsite every week might be over.

And what did the survey discover about hybrid work? Nearly 48% of respondents said they favored a balanced schedule of two to three days a week in the office, while 28% said that they would prefer working just one day in the office.

A total of 18% of respondents said that they would be comfortable working four to five days onsite, while 6% said that they preferred working no days in the office at all.

A total of 37% of respondents said that they would not consider leaving a hybrid work schedule, while 26% said that they might make the switch if the offer came with a significant raise or increase in benefits.

Rich Berman hired at VeraBank

VeraBank is proud to welcome Rich Berman, EVP – Regional President, to its Williamson County market. With more than 20 years of banking experience and deep-rooted connections across the Greater Austin business community, Rich brings expertise and heart to his role.

“I’m passionate about helping local businesses succeed and building strong teams that reflect VeraBank’s community-first values,” said Rich Berman. “It’s inspiring to see what local businesses are capable of with the right support.”

Mark Lakins hired at Dahlin Group Inc.

Mark Lakins joins the Austin office of DAHLIN Architecture | Planning | Interiors as Director – Project Development. Lakins brings 15 years of experience to DAHLIN to lead project development through a designer’s eye and a builder’s mindset. Skilled at connecting clients with creative, constructable solutions informed by his understanding of how projects come together, he will champion project development of residential, mixed-use, and custom luxury homes for DAHLIN across the Southwest Region.

Omar Mourtaja hired at Texas Gulf Bank, N.A.

Omar Mourtaja joins Texas Gulf Bank as Vice President – Commercial Lender in our River Oaks location. He has 7 years of banking experience with a focus on commercial lending. A Houston area resident, he understands the commercial banking needs of the market. He will concentrate on expanding our commercial client base offering business loans, deposit products and flexible financial solutions to growing Houston area businesses. MEMBER FDIC/Loans Subject to Credit Approval.

Cindy Villarreal, AIA, RID, WELL AP promoted to Principal at O’Connell Robertson

O’Connell Robertson is proud to announce the promotion of Cindy Villarreal to Principal. As Director of the Houston office, Cindy leads with a focus on growth, culture, and excellence aligned with the Firm’s mission-driven values. With 15+ years of architectural design, lab planning and project management experience, she is adept at providing sustainable, resilient solutions.

Cindy’s leadership has been crucial to implementing the Firm’s Gulf Coast expansion, fostering strong team culture, and strengthening relationships with clients.

“Cindy exemplifies the leadership, collaboration, and client focus that our Firm is known for,” said Amy Jones, President & CEO. “Her commitment to people and purpose continues to elevate our Houston office and our Firm.”

As a Principal, Cindy will guide strategic growth, enhance project delivery, and advance client partnerships. O’Connell Robertson is a Texas-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm, celebrating 75 years of business.

Derek Taylor hired at Granite Harbor Advisors

Derek Taylor has joined Granite Harbor Advisors as Managing Partner, where he will lead the launch of Granite Harbor Capital, expanding the firm’s platform into private equity, private credit, and real estate. A nationally recognized leader in private investments and former transactional law partner, Taylor brings deep operating experience and will anchor Granite Harbor’s growing national private markets presence.