Return-to-office debacle: How appealing is your office space?

As major employers like Fidelity and Airbus tighten return-to-office mandates, new sickness absence data from the NHS suggests the offices staff are being forced back to could be feeding the very problem employers are trying to solve. 

The Health Impact Behind the Return-to-Office Pushback

Controversy around Return-to-Office is spiralling; Barclays has recently faced revolt over new Return-to-Office mandate - as thousands of staff members sign an open letter to push back on new policy - forcing them to delay enforcement until 2027.

Millions of UK workers are returning to their desks full time - coinciding with NHS data showing stress-related absence is climbing; anxiety, stress and depression was the most reported reason for sickness, accounting for over 678,900 full time equivalent days lost and nearly a third (29.3%) of all sickness absence in March 2026, an increase year-on-year. 

A February 2026 Acas-commissioned YouGov survey of over 1,000 UK employers found that 32% of bosses cite stress, anxiety or depression as a reason staff give for calling in sick.

The data lands as corporations including Barclays, Fidelity and Airbus tighten their return-to-work policy. The trend is accelerating, with the proportion of UK companies mandating 3+ office days a week rising from 67% to 75% year-on-year in Q3 2023 and 2024.

Employees are put off returning to the office for many reasons, whether it’s work-life flexibility, commuting time and cost, or they simply don’t find their office environment comfortable or beneficial for their productivity. 

The proof is in the pudding, according to the data. Office design not only positively impacts wellbeing, but also productivity. New survey research found strong positive relationships between workplace design satisfaction and employee well-being, and a recent study found that employees with higher well-being scores were 25% more productive than their counterparts.

Office wellbeing expert, Luke Deedman at Deedman, explains that upgrades to an office aren’t the cure for employees’ reluctance to return to the office, but creating an emotionally safe work environment can vastly improve wellbeing and productivity: “Employers are spending huge amounts of time and money getting people back to their desks and managing the fallout in sickness absence, and evidence keeps pointing to environment being one of the strongest influences on employee wellbeing. 

“Improving an office doesn't always mean knocking down walls or investing in a complete refurbishment. There are plenty of relatively simple changes employers can make to improve how a workplace looks, feels and functions.

“That could mean introducing more comfortable, social seating, creating informal spaces where people can take a break or collaborate, improving lighting, reducing clutter, adding greenery or simply giving employees more areas that feel personal and welcoming.

“Having plants in the office seems like an optional finishing touch for decoration, but the evidence points to office plants being highly beneficial for health and wellbeing. 

They do look lovely, but they’re also evidence-backed, low-cost interventions for employers to make their spaces inviting. No one wants to return to a clinical office with no character, stuck between four walls, but when the office feels alive and actually welcoming and inviting, the evidence says people are happier, more creative and more productive.”

Luke outlines five simple office upgrades that make the world of difference to employee wellbeing and productivity, and how much they cost…

Five Cost-Effective Design Upgrades to Improve the Workplace

Sociable seating 

Office spaces should be collaborative. Adding a few comfortable sofas, armchairs or informal seating areas can transform an otherwise functional office into a space that encourages employees to interact away from their desks. 

Research into office design found that proximity between colleagues is associated with more frequent and longer face-to-face interactions, suggesting that the way an office is arranged can influence how easily employees connect with one another. 

Cost: Approximately £500 per employee.

Biophilic design - not to be underestimated

A peer-reviewed study found that adding something as simple as greenery to the workspace drastically improved workplace attractiveness and sense of privacy in just three months. Four months after plants were introduced, employees reported fewer health-related complaints while at work and higher overall satisfaction with their workspace.

The University of Exeter found that office plants can help boost staff wellbeing by up to 47%, increase creativity by 45% and increase productivity by 38%.

Cost: From £23 per week.

Colour scheme

Studies show that the colour scheme of an office environment directly impacts productivity and mood. It’s time to ditch the sterile, clinical white office scheme, and switch it out for something more grounding with energy.

A fresh coat of paint could be one of the simplest ways to change how an office feels, without undertaking a major refurbishment. Adding colour to feature walls, breakout areas or communal spaces can make a workplace feel less clinical and more welcoming. Soft blues or greens add a grounding feel to a space without boldness, complemented with accent colours like pink or terracotta for depth and character.

Cost: From £350 depending on office size.

“Turn the big light off!”

Let's be real, the ‘big light’ can be overstimulating and distracting. 

Studies show that natural light directly impacts workplace wellbeing - employees prefer natural light and feel more satisfied, healthier, visually more comfortable and more productive. Some office spaces are more blessed with natural light than others, but all offices can maximise the natural lighting they have. Position desks by windows where possible, open blinds, and remove bulky items that are blocking natural light. 

Cost: From £0!

No-screen-time quiet zones

Offices need screens, but not for the full working day. Most of our lives are now digitalised, so it’s crucial employees have a space where they can detox from their screens. Research found when shifting open-plan areas from the active zone to the quiet zone cognitive performance increased significantly by 16.9%. 

Open-plan offices can be useful for collaboration, but constant conversations, calls and notifications can make focused work difficult. Creating a designated quiet zone gives employees somewhere to escape distractions when they need to concentrate or decompress.

Cost: Free