“Many employees do not want to share the desk”

Frankfurt Abandoned offices, empty hallways and unused desks. The trend towards working from home as a result of the corona pandemic has changed the office property market, which has been booming for a long time. Many employers have started downsizing their office space and questioning old locations. However, large providers still expect increasing demand for office properties, the second largest market segment after residential buildings.

Despite current space reductions, many companies would need more rather than less office space in the long term, said Silvia Schmitten-Walgenbach, CEO of the German-Austrian office building developer CA Immo, the Handelsblatt. Because the so-called desk sharing, in which employees are flexibly assigned a workplace in the office, does not meet the needs of many employees. “Many employees also value their individualized workplace in the office and do not want to share the desk,” argues the manager.