Americans Embrace Play and Leave Work Behind: Survey
By Julia Echikson July 19, 2021 6:19 pm
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After a year of isolation at home, Americans are putting work on the back burner.
Pre-COVID, nearly a third of Americans ranked their work as the most important part of their lives. Now, as vaccines are readily available, only a quarter find it so important, according to a survey conducted by public relations firm The Brand Guild, which sampled 996 individuals in May 2021.
The U.S. population is prioritizing their personal lives instead: taking care of their physical and mental health, seeing loved ones, and going out.
The overwhelming majority, 73 percent, say they want to live near friends and family rather than their workplace. Only 56 percent desire working in a bustling downtown area, where many offices are housed. After taking refuge in nature during the pandemic, 86 percent of respondents believed public outdoor spaces need more investment.
Employees are not abandoning their offices altogether. Roughly three-quarters, 76 percent, say they commute as often, if not more frequently, than before the pandemic.
As hybrid work models become the new norm, workers want the office to serve as a hub for them to mingle and foster community. The majority, 78 and 83 percent, say they want more employee events and collaborative workstations, respectively.
“We’re seeing colossal shifts in how people use space … and real estate will be ground zero,” said The Brand Guild co-CEO Barbara Martin.
Priorities did differ by geography, however. Miami and D.C. — two of four cities featured in the report — are staying true to their reputations.
Known for being career-driven, 28 percent of D.C. dwellers valued their work above all, besting the national average by two percentage points. During their time off D.C., residents gravitate toward arts and culture: 82 percent intend to go to a museum this year and one-third look forward to visiting a bookshop.
Miami, on the other hand, is ready to party. Living in a city famous for its nightlife, 35 percent of Miami locals say they’re prioritizing going out, exceeding the national average by four percentage points.
Julia Echikson can be reached at jechikson@commercialobserver.com.
