research
round-up
As self-proclaimed data nerds, we Puzzlers love a good piece of research! We've collated, vetted and summarised some of the most insightful reports and research relating to workplace trends, employee experience, hybrid working and workplace design so you can quickly and easily find the latest insights and articles relating to the world of workplace.
our take on the latest research...
meeting rooms with
6-9 capacity
averaged only
2.6 occupants
Source: XY Sense | Workplace Utilisation Index
There’s a mountain of research out there - some of it brilliant, some… not so much. At Puzzle, we’ve sifted through the noise and curated a selection of the key resources we turn to time and again to stay on top of workplace trends, future of work insights, and emerging best practices that will maximise employee experience.
We’re big believers in evidence-based thinking. Quality research helps us sharpen our understanding and guide our approach. We know that no two organisations are the same. That’s why we always advocate for a tailored, deep-dive into each client’s unique context, challenges, and goals.
Having a solid grasp of the research landscape can be incredibly useful. It can help you:
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Spot and apply best practices
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Spark fresh ideas and new ways of thinking
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Benchmark across and within industries
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Track how trends shift and evolve over time
Highlighted to the right, you’ll find some standout insights and hot topics that caught our attention. And below, there’s a more comprehensive table packed with resources - so if you’re the curious type, feel free to dive in. Just a heads-up, this rabbit hole runs deep, so you might want to block out an hour or two!
If you’re keen to explore how this research could be applied to your organisation through a more tailored lens, we’d love to chat. If you’ve come across other great resources we should include, send them our way - we’re always looking to expand the conversation.
hybrid
workers
are
more engaged
than on-site workers
1.7x
Source: ADP | People At Work 2025
employee engagement has
dropped to
21%
Source: Gallup | State Of The Global Workplace
Source: Gallup | State Of The Global Workplace
70%
of team engagement is attributable to the manager
Workplace
Trends
Workplace
Experience
Employee
Engagement
Hybrid
Statistics
Workplace
Design
Hover over each block below for a few key points from the study.
ADP
People at Work 2025: A Global Workforce View
Global workforce survey with detail by region based on responses from nearly 38,000 people in 34 markets on six continents. Insights into engagement, wellbeing, hybrid working, AI and more. Open the link and then download the full report.
Hybrid workers 1.7x more engaged than on-site
36% of hybrid workers are thriving
Flexibility boosts motivation + work-life balance
Academic Research
Return-To-Office Mandates and Brain Drain
A study of 3 million tech and finance workers’ employment histories from 54 S&P 500 tech and finance firms analysing the impact of RTO mandates on employee turnover and hiring using LinkedIn data.
RTO mandates increase turnover by 13% especially among female, senior, and highly skilled employees
Firms with rigid mandates take 23% longer to fill vacancies and hire 17% fewer employees post-mandate
Gallup
Q12 Meta-Analysis 2024 (11th Edition)
Global meta-analysis of 736 studies across 347 organisations, examining the relationship between employee engagement and 11 key business outcomes including productivity, turnover and profitability. Open the link and then download the full report.
Engagement strongly predicts wellbeing and customer loyalty
Median differences between top and bottom quartiles:
23% in profitability
18% in productivity
78% in absenteeism
Leesman
The Hybrid Future Report Q4 2024
A comprehensive multi-phase research initiative involving 3,988 employees across eight campaigns, exploring the implications of hybrid working on individuals, organisations, and society.
91% of employees like hybrid working
94% cite work-life balance as key to job decisions
49% say commuting discourages office visits
Hybrid working enhances inclusivity, especially for caregivers, remote workers, and those with disabilities
Leesman
The Value Of Variety
A global analysis of over 1,500 workplaces and 400,000 employee responses, comparing assigned vs unassigned seating strategies and their impact on workplace experience. Insights into workplace design impacts on employee experience.
Unassigned workplaces with good variety outperform assigned ones in employee experience (Lmi72.8 vs 69.6)
25% of employees in unassigned workplaces still struggle, highlighting the need for tailored design
Variety of work settings is critical to success; poor variety leads to significantly lower satisfaction
Vecos
Global Workplace Flexibility Index 2025
Research on smart locker usage trends based on billions of smart locker interactions across 6.7 million users in 62 countries. Insights into utilisation patterns of five locker user personas to inform design decisions.
Identifies 5 typical personas of locker users
37% of users were “Rucksack Roamers” who don’t require a locker
30% were “Neighbourhood Nesters” wanting a locker close to their neighbourhood
XY Sense
Workplace Utilisation Index Q4 2024 & Q1 2025
A biannual report analysing global workplace occupancy trends using real-time sensor data from over 59,000 workspaces. Offers high level benchmarking insights into utilisation. Open the link and then download the full report.
24.5% of desks were never used and 19.4% used less than 1 hour/day
Collaboration spaces reached 42% utilisation vs 39% for desks
Mid-sized meeting rooms (6–9 capacity) averaged just 2.6 occupants and 13% of meeting room usage was by single occupants
AHRI
Latest Quarterly Australian Work Outlook
Australian, Human Rersources focused research of 600+ senior HR professionals and business leaders nationwide and across all sectors. Provides insights into recruitment and redundancy intentions, employee turnover and pay expectations.
40% of organisations intend to increase staff levels in the June quarter of 2025
12-month average employee turnover was 15%
48% of employers would like to see the right to request flexible working extended to all employees now
Flex Index
Flex Report Q3 2025
A quarterly US report analysing flexible work trends across 9,000+ companies. Covers policy vs compliance, growth impact, industry and company size comparisons, and structured hybrid models.
66% of US firms offer location flexibility
Smaller firms (<500 employees) are 6x more likely to be Fully Flexible than large enterprises
Fully Flexible firms grew revenue 1.7x faster
Required office days is up 12%, actual attendance is only up 1-3%
Haworth
Research
A collection of research papers, articles and podcasts from one of the largest office furniture manufacturers globally. Insights primarily into the physical environment and how this impacts workers.
Recent articles include:
Managing Noise in Hybrid Spaces
Affordances - the characteristics of an object or space that encourage a particular behaviour
Workspace Nudge - the connection between workspace design and employee well-being
Leesman
Focus Forward: Insights From The Top
Global study of 132 senior corporate real estate leaders + data from over 500,000 employee engagement surveys. Explores strategies for hybrid working, employee experience, and real estate optimisation. Open the link and then download the full report.
Hybrid working is the norm: 97% of leaders report hybrid models; only 4% mandate full-time office
Employee experience improving, but still lags behind home working
Top office purposes: collaboration (70%), connection (43%), creativity (37%)
Mismatch between office design and employee needs for focused work
McKinsey
Superagency in the Workplace
A comprehensive study based on surveys of 3,613 employees and 238 C-suite executives across six countries, exploring the rapid advancement of AI and how it can empower people and transform workplaces.
Employees use AI 3x more than leaders expect. Training is key: 48% of employees cite it as most important.
Millennials are leading AI adoption
84% of Australian employees report strong AI training support
WFH Research
Global Survey of Working Arrangements
Stanford University research on work-from-home trends. A monthly survey since 2020 with over 240,000 responses, tracking U.S. work-from-home trends, employer plans, and employee preferences.
27% of paid workdays in the U.S. were remote in May 2025
Employees want more WFH than employers plan - gap ~0.5 days/week
Finance, Tech, and Professional Services lead in WFH prevalence
RTO mandates rising slightly, but employee expectations remain stable
AHRI
Hybrid Work Trends in Australia
The report examines how hybrid work is reshaping the Australian workplace, offering insights into how businesses are navigating the balance between flexibility and productivity, while tackling key challenges like collaboration and employee engagement. Open the link and then download the full report.
44% of employers have a minimum requirement to attend between 3 and 5 days a week
Employers perceive that hybrid staff are more productive on average
Advantages of hybrid working are perceived to be; better work-life balance (65%), higher employee retention rates (44%), greater ability to attract candidates (41%), and enhanced health and wellbeing (41%)
Gallup
State of the Global Workplace 2025
A comprehensive annual global study of employee engagement, wellbeing, and workplace trends across 160+ countries. Provides insights into productivity, manager influence, hybrid work, AI with detail by region. Open the link and then download the full report.
Global employee engagement dropped to 21%
Manager engagement fell from 30% to 27% (young and female most affected)
70% of team engagement is attributable to the manager
Only 44% of managers have received training; training halves active disengagement
Herman Miller
Knowledge
A collection of research papers, articles and podcasts from one of the largest office furniture manufacturers globally. Insights primarily into the physical environment and how this impacts workers.
Recent articles include:
Redefining the Future of the Office
Overcome the Challenges of Remote Learning by Focusing on Well-Being
Can Office Design Boost Innovation?
Leesman
The Power Of Place
A global analysis of post-pandemic workplace experience across 305,000+ employees, comparing average vs outstanding workplaces and their impact in hybrid working environments. Insights into what drives positive employee experience. Open the link and then download the full report.
Only 42% of workplaces deliver a great experience and 16% actively hinder performance
Home working environments outperform offices on average (H-Lmi80.7 vs Lmi67.9)
Outstanding workplaces drive pride, productivity, community, and enjoyment
Steelcase
Research + Insights
A collection of research papers, articles and podcasts from one of the largest office furniture manufacturers globally. Insights primarily into the physical environment and how this impacts workers.
Recent articles include:
The Manager Crunch
Creating Community At Work
Reinventing Five Essential Spaces: Before + After
Worktech Academy
Annual Insights Report
A global trend report outlining 25 workplace shifts across people, place, culture, technology and design. Explores how hybrid work, AI, leadership, and design are reshaping the future of work. Open the link and then download the full report.
Offices are evolving into relationship hubs prioritising human connection
Rise of vibrancy metrics to measure workplace energy and engagement
Hybrid leadership requires emotional intelligence and inclusivity
AI is the dominant disruptor, driving new models of work and risk