Thursday, 23 April 2026
Office strategies in Romania are becoming increasingly differentiated depending on company size, with large organisations focusing on stability while smaller firms show greater openness to expansion, according to a survey conducted by Colliers among 101 companies.
The data shows that approximately 87% of large companies, defined as those with more than 500 employees, plan to maintain their current office footprint in 2026. This points to a shift away from expansion toward optimisation and efficiency. By contrast, smaller companies, with fewer than 100 employees, are more likely to consider expansion, including into new cities, reflecting a higher degree of flexibility.
Mid-sized firms, employing between 100 and 500 people, appear to be in a more transitional phase, adjusting both workspace strategies and organisational structures in response to evolving collaboration needs.
Differences are also visible in how companies assess their business outlook. Around 68% of large organisations report a positive perspective on their performance, compared to roughly half of mid-sized firms. Workforce planning follows a similar pattern, with nearly two-thirds of large companies expecting stable employee numbers, while only about 40% of mid-sized firms indicate the same level of predictability.
Patterns of office use vary across segments. More than 40% of small firms report that at least 70% of their employees are present in the office on a typical day. In contrast, attendance levels in mid-sized and large organisations tend to be lower, reflecting more widespread adoption of hybrid working models. Formal office attendance policies are also more common among larger companies, with over 40% having introduced structured rules on physical presence, compared to around 30% of mid-sized firms and 12.5% of small businesses.
Organisational priorities differ significantly, particularly in relation to employee wellbeing and cost management. Approximately 85% of large companies have implemented mental health support programmes, compared to 26% of small firms. At the same time, high rent and maintenance costs remain a key concern across all segments, while mid-sized companies place greater emphasis on improving space efficiency.
Challenges related to office use also vary. Smaller firms most frequently cite accessibility, particularly distance from employees’ homes, as a constraint. Larger organisations, by contrast, highlight the rigidity of existing office layouts and the difficulty of adapting them to changing requirements.
Technology adoption continues to expand across the market. Mid-sized companies appear particularly active, with the use of artificial intelligence-based solutions exceeding 40%, approaching levels seen in larger organisations.
“The office space market is no longer evolving uniformly, but is becoming increasingly fragmented. Company size directly influences how decisions related to space, people, and technology are made. We are seeing a transition from a general hybrid work model to differentiated strategies, where the focus is increasingly shifting toward efficiency, adaptability, and employee experience,” said Daniela Popescu, Director, Tenant Services & Workplace Advisory at Colliers.
The findings suggest that both the labour market and the office sector in Romania are entering a more mature phase, with companies adopting tailored approaches to workspace strategy rather than following a single, uniform model.
