By JLL
In the past 12 months, Boston has emerged as the top major market in the United States for workers returning to the office. According to foot traffic data from Placer.AI, office attendance in Boston has increased by 10.3% during this period, marking a significant improvement from a year ago when the city lagged in return-to-office (RTO) rates. This surge in office attendance has allowed Boston to recover 67.4% of its pre-pandemic levels, with ample room for further growth.
While Boston’s recovery rate places it slightly below the national average of 70%, it demonstrates the city’s resilience and progress in bringing employees back to the workplace. The uptick in RTO can be attributed to several factors that have influenced companies’ decisions and attitudes towards office work.
One notable trend is the rising recognition among companies that the office serves as a powerful tool for differentiation, allowing them to establish and showcase their brand identity. Some businesses, like Gupta Media, have actively embraced the office as a linchpin of their success. Gupta Media, a recent leasee of 131 Dartmouth in the Back Bay, highlights the competitive advantage they gain from in-person collaboration, the sense of culture and community fostered in an office environment and the direct impact on the quality of their work.
Furthermore, companies are now converging on well-defined hybrid work patterns that maintain flexibility while harnessing the benefits of face-to-face interactions. JLL‘s Workplace Strategy experts state that the average weekly office attendance currently stands at 3.1 days per week. This new hybrid work style emphasizes increased collaboration opportunities while providing dedicated spaces for focused, individual work.
Recent research from JLL, Workplace experience (WX) tops leadership’s priority list, reaffirms that while collaboration is considered vital for returning to the office, individual work remains the most prevalent activity in the office, accounting for an average of 56% of employees’ time. Understanding the multi-purpose nature of the office has helped companies solidify their hybrid strategies and provide clearer direction to employees regarding the advantages of being in the office.
As more firms recognize the advantages of in-person collaboration and refine their messaging around the importance of the office, Boston’s trajectory towards increased office attendance seems promising. With its current recovery rate and ongoing efforts, more individuals are expected to return to work in Boston, cementing the city’s position as a leader in office attendance recovery.
Boston’s remarkable 10.3% increase in office attendance over the last 12 months, along with its recovery of 67.4% of pre-pandemic levels, showcases the city’s resurgence in the return to the office. Factors such as treating the office as a differentiator, recognizing the value of face-to-face collaboration and establishing effective hybrid work patterns have contributed to Boston’s success. With further improvements projected, Boston remains an attractive market for companies striving to bring their workforce back to the office.