CBRE Report NCO Survey 2026

The main findings indicate a structural shift in the relationship between employees and the office: 88% prefer a hybrid or remote model, yet 82% of respondents value at least partial physical presence, while only 12% of Gen Z want to work exclusively from home. The report’s central conclusion is clear: people are not avoiding the office—they are avoiding uninspiring offices.

Office as social infrastructure

Social interaction remains the primary reason for coming to the office across all three generations (21–26%), followed by mental separation from home and career visibility. The latter is particularly important for Gen Y, where 15% rank it among their top three reasons for being present. The data shows that a well-designed office is not a cost, but a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent.

Policy, not location, is the deal-breaker

63% of respondents would refuse a job that requires 100% office presence or relies on excessive monitoring. Distance to the office is cited as a barrier by only 13% of respondents—confirming that the issue is not the office itself, but how it is managed. A well-calibrated hybrid model with genuine autonomy simultaneously removes the two most common reasons for refusal.

Design matters: quiet zones, nature and thermal control

51% of all respondents envision an office with biophilic design, a preference consistent across generations. Focus areas and quiet spaces top the list of desired attributes (26%), outperforming open collaboration areas (9%). Thermal control is the number one daily comfort factor—57% of Gen X and 45% of Gen Y rank it first.

CBRE Romania can deliver each of these features through its integrated workplace design and office leasing services

„Data confirms what we already see in practice: a thoughtfully designed office is a company’s most powerful employer branding tool. Through our workplace consultancy and office leasing services, we help companies in Romania transform data into destinations—spaces where people choose to come,” said the CBRE Romania Workplace & Leasing team.