Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Nearly half of companies in Romania expect employees to work from the office three to four days per week in 2026, reflecting a more structured approach to hybrid working, according to a survey conducted by Colliers among 101 companies.
At the same time, around 75% of organisations plan to maintain their current office footprint, despite 55% reporting lower office occupancy compared with pre-pandemic levels. The findings suggest that companies are adapting how space is used rather than significantly expanding or reducing it. The survey includes companies primarily based in Bucharest, alongside respondents from Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara, with the IT&C and professional services sectors representing a significant share of participants.
Most companies indicate limited changes to their office space requirements in the near term. Around 75.25% expect to keep their current space, while 8.9% anticipate reductions of up to 25%. Approximately 9% plan moderate expansion, with fewer than 3% considering larger increases. At the same time, 31.3% of companies expect employees to be present in the office one to two days per week, highlighting continued flexibility in working patterns.
Office utilisation remains uneven, with many organisations reporting that between 30% and 70% of employees are present on a typical day. Only a minority report near-full occupancy, and just 36% of respondents describe the office environment as “vibrant,” while most consider it relatively quiet.
Daniela Popescu, Director | Tenant Services & Workplace Advisory at Colliers, said: “Companies are no longer trying to radically change the way people work, but rather to adjust and gradually refine it. The survey data shows a clear trend towards a more structured hybrid model, in which employees come to the office more often than in recent years, but without returning to the traditional five-day office schedule. For example, nearly half of companies expect employees to be present in the office three to four days a week, while only a small share remain fully remote or fully office-based. At the same time, companies are focusing their attention on optimising existing spaces and developing wellbeing programmes that create a more balanced and attractive working environment for employees.”
While office locations and access to amenities remain important, attendance levels are still partial, and employees increasingly expect additional benefits to support office-based work. Around 50.5% of companies say they have not introduced specific initiatives to increase attendance, relying instead on internal policies or employee choice. Among those taking action, the most common measures include internal events, attendance rules and workspace upgrades, while financial incentives are used less frequently.
Managing office space continues to present challenges for occupiers. High rent and maintenance costs are cited as the main concern by 44.55% of companies, followed by inefficient use of space and limited building flexibility for hybrid work.
Popescu added: “Overall, the survey results show that the labour market is entering a phase of gradual adjustment, with companies refining their working strategies and the way they use office space. Instead of radical changes, most prefer to optimise existing spaces, strengthen the hybrid working model and invest in programmes that support collaboration and employee wellbeing.”
The survey also highlights a growing focus on employee wellbeing. Around 38.6% of respondents say remote work has had no significant impact on wellbeing, while 34.6% report a positive effect and 26.7% a negative one. In response, approximately two thirds of companies have implemented wellbeing initiatives, including coaching, therapy, workshops and social activities. Overall, the findings point to a gradual stabilisation of hybrid working models, with companies focusing on improving efficiency, employee experience and the effective use of office space.
