Survey reveals that in-office work can have a positive impact on wellbeing – with more socialisation, physical activity and breaks

More than 1,180 office workers in the Helsinki metropolitan area responded to the Current State and Outlook of Office Work 2025 survey between December and January. The study was conducted by research company nSight on behalf of Sponda Ltd, one of Finland’s leading real estate asset management companies, and revealed that in-office work can improve the wellbeing of workers. 73% of respondents said that working in an office has a positive impact on their wellbeing, with more than 80% believing that face-to-face encounters at the office have the same effect.  

The survey also found that socialisation whilst working in an office has a positive impact on how people work. Up to 85% of the office workers believe that laughing and spending time together boosts work motivation. Almost as many (84%) said that in-office work strengthens the sense of community among the team and 75% stated that it was easier to ask for help from colleagues when working in the office. 

“We have the brain of a social animal, and it's natural for us to solve problems together. Long-term isolation from the community is not healthy for our brains; it gradually distances us from both our colleagues and our shared goals”, says Minna Huotilainen, a brain researcher from the University of Helsinki.   
 
In-office work can also have physical benefits. Almost three quarters (73%) of respondents said they were more physically active during office days. Over half of the respondents (57%) took more regular breaks in the office than at home. 

“Three quarters of the workers we surveyed feel that working in the office supports learning and development. In terms of career advancement, balancing a hybrid work routine with more office time seems to be clearly beneficial,” comments Sponda’s CEO Christian Hohenthal. 

Creativity and problem solving are more efficient face to face 

The research demonstrated how in-office work often has important benefits for employers. Three quarters of office-workers stated that solving challenges is more efficient done face to face with colleagues. For 84%, creating new ideas came more naturally when working in the office. 

More than half of the respondents reported getting more work done in the office. In addition, up to 73% of those working in leadership positions said that in-office work boosted the company’s productivity. 

“In-office work plays a huge role in the functionality and productivity of organisations. Even when things do not go to plan, by collaborating and working together, teams can become better equipped to solve problems more quickly and efficiently,” says Hohenthal. 

Most work in the office 3–5 days a week 

Most respondents (79%) said that they would prefer to work in the office either full-time or part of the time. Only around a fifth of respondents would like to work remotely full time. When working in a hybrid set-up, variety and the freedom of choice were important to the respondents. In-office work was preferred particularly in roles where collaboration was required or when support or social interaction was needed. 

Over half of the respondents worked in the office three to five days a week. Those working in Helsinki city centre are more likely to work three-five days a week in the office compared to respondents who work outside of the city centre. Only about one in ten employees commuted to the office less than once a week. 

Location of the office matters to hybrid workers 

A whopping 93% of the respondents said that the location of the office was important, as well as good public transport connections (87%) and the range of places to eat lunch (73%). 

The majority (68%) also regarded it as important to be able to combine an in-office workday with other activities, with facilities near the office, such as cinemas, gyms and restaurants, being particularly important for workers in Helsinki city centre. 

“Having good quality services available nearby is a key factor in attracting workers to the office. This is important as office workers play an essential role in helping to keep Helsinki city centre vibrant and provide vital support to local businesses. Having an office in the city center is an important factor for more than half of the respondents,” notes Hohenthal. 

About a third of the respondents whose workplace was located outside Helsinki city centre said that they would come to the office more regularly if it was located in the centre of Helsinki.  Up to 82% of employees whose office was located in the centre said that the central location was important.