Report | Adaptive Spaces
European and CEE Office Occupier Sentiment Survey 2025
October 10, 2025 8 Minute Read
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This report highlights a strong push toward increased office attendance, greater flexibility, and more efficient real estate strategies, though the pace and approach vary across regions.
Office Attendance & Engagement:
Nearly half of European companies expect higher office attendance, aiming to boost collaboration and engagement. In the CEE region, utilization levels are rising, particularly among larger companies that use better communication and measurement tools. However, there’s still a gap between company expectations and employee preferences, with flexibility remaining a key pressure point.
Flexibility & Space Efficiency:
Across Europe, flexible spaces have grown significantly and are expected to make up about one-third of portfolios within two years. CEE companies are also optimizing space, but the adoption of advanced digital tools remains low. There’s a clear divide between “legacy” companies, which favor traditional office-first models, and “progressive” companies, which adopt flexible, hybrid approaches.
Balancing Cost, Employee Needs & Future-Proofing:
Both regions face the challenge of balancing cost efficiency with employee needs and long-term planning. While European companies express concerns about the availability of suitable spaces, CEE organizations often focus on short-term issues rather than strategic, data-driven approaches. Overcrowding during peak times and limited change management are common concerns.
Diverging Strategic Approaches:
The CEE region shows two distinct patterns: conservative legacy companies and flexible, human-centric progressive companies. Both could benefit by adopting some of each other’s strengths. At the European level, there’s an implicit shift toward more progressive, flexible, and resilient strategies.
Summary
Overall, Europe is in a period of transition. Organizations are working to increase office attendance and engagement, adapt to new models of flexibility, manage costs, and meet diverse employee expectations. The CEE region mirrors these trends but exhibits a more uneven and nuanced journey, shaped by organizational type and strategy.