Commuters across the United Kingdom are increasingly returning to their workplaces, with average office attendance reaching its highest level since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the latest ReTurn report from Remit Consulting, occupancy rates have stabilised, indicating a significant shift in post-pandemic work patterns.
Office Occupancy Stabilises at Pre-Covid Highs
In the week ending 13 February, average office attendance in the UK climbed to 44.2%, marking the highest figure recorded since March 2020. This follows a consistent trend, with weekly attendance remaining above 40% since early January. The data reveals a slight dip to 42.2% during the half-term holiday in the week to 20 February, before rebounding to 44.1% the following week.
Regional Variations in Return to Work
Office occupancy varies significantly across major UK cities tracked by Remit Consulting. In the week to 27 February, Bristol led with an impressive 69.2% attendance, followed closely by Leeds at 64.6% and Cardiff at 63.8%. Other cities reported moderate figures: Edinburgh at 53.7%, Manchester at 50.7%, Birmingham at 42.3%, London at 41.5%, Newcastle upon Tyne at 39.3%, and Glasgow at 31.6%.
Lorna Landells, a partner at Remit and co-author of the report, commented on the findings: "Office attendance is no longer in freefall nor in recovery mode; it is settling. Employees are more open to being in the office, but only where it feels purposeful and workable. Flexibility is no longer a perk; it is the baseline."
Corporate Push and Employee Resistance
Investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase have been at the forefront of enforcing strict return-to-office mandates, requiring employees to work on-site five days a week. This has sparked considerable backlash, with over 2,000 of JPMorgan Chase's global workforce signing a petition against the policy. The petition criticises the mandate as a "great leap backward" that adversely affects diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, particularly impacting women, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities.
Despite this resistance, many companies in sectors like law and accounting continue to offer hybrid models, allowing staff to work remotely for up to two days per week. Landells added: "The question is no longer whether people will return to the office but what kind of office experience genuinely supports the way people now work. As expectations stabilise, the quality, functionality and clarity of workplace design are set to play an increasingly decisive role in driving attendance."
Long-Term Office Commitments and Market Trends
Interestingly, a growing number of firms are committing to large office spaces for the long term. According to CoStar, there were 14 new office lettings exceeding 100,000 square feet in the past year, matching the highest level since 2017 and doubling the figure from 2024. Major banks like JP Morgan and HSBC have each secured approximately 200,000 square feet, reversing earlier downsizing moves made during the pandemic.
Knight Frank, a leading property company, noted: "While a move back toward office-first hybrid-working patterns is the norm, occupiers are planning for peak occupancy days and accepting some off-peak inefficiency as the price of having teams together when it matters. A small number of firms are taking a more targeted approach to reducing waste, for example, by closing certain floors on Fridays."
Before the pandemic, national office occupancy typically ranged between 60% and 80%, accounting for factors like sickness and holidays. The current stabilisation around 44% reflects a new equilibrium in the evolving landscape of work, balancing corporate mandates with employee preferences for flexibility.
