~ Interio by Godrej launches study that introduces concept of ‘Social Office 2.0’ ~

Mumbai : Interio by Godrej, a leading furniture brand from the Godrej Enterprises Group, has published the findings of its latest research study “Social Office Reimagined: Reality of Hybrid Workspaces”. To understand the debate over the role of physical offices in innovation and collaboration, the Workspace & Ergonomics Research Cell at Interio conducted a nation-wide study to understand the challenges and suggest appropriate solutions detailed in the Whitepaper. The survey was conducted among 350 employees across India, spanning more than 50 offices and diverse industries, to understand user work patterns, their needs, and their expectations while working from the office. It also introduces the concept of ‘Social Office 2.0’ – a space that identifies 5 distinct typologies which are prevalent in Hybrid Workspaces.

According to the study, India’s workforce today is split across different work models: 42.1% work exclusively from offices, 10.5% entirely from home, and 47.4% shuttle between both. When asked about their preferences, employees showed a clear inclination toward offices for collaboration and team activities. 77% of new joiners and 75% of veteran employees prefer working from office for team collaboration, mentoring and networking.

Commenting on the findings, Sameer Joshi, Senior Vice President and Head of B2B Business, Interio by Godrej, said: “Hybrid work is no longer just a trend, it is the new reality. Our research shows that employees want offices to be more than just work spaces. They need environments that support focused work, enable collaboration and build community. This means designing adaptive workspaces with quiet zones for concentration, interactive areas for teamwork and social spaces for connection. At Interio, we are helping organizations create office space as an adaptive ecosystems that integrates seamlessly with technology to encourage collaboration and productivity. We are seeing strong demand for solutions that enables human-centered workspaces and are looking to grow this segment by 25% in FY26”

The study identified three key space types that modern workplaces require. First, Immersive Spaces for focused work, with 57.9% of respondents preferring dedicated workstations for individual productivity. Second, Interactive Spaces for collaboration, where 57.9% of respondents prefer conducting mentoring and learning activities. Third, Social Courtyards for community building, which 84.2% of respondents emphasize as important for networking, relationship building and connecting with organizational culture. Notably, 89.5% of respondents want their offices to reflect the warmth and comfort of their homes, moving away from traditional corporate environments.

The study also found that only 29.4% of offices have made significant changes in the past three years, despite the fundamental shift in how people work. However, significant challenges remain as 73.7% of employees report that noise-related distractions hinder their ability to focus at work. The findings reveal that while organizations have embraced hybrid work models, most have yet to redesign their physical spaces to match this new reality. The research emphasizes that offices must evolve from traditional layouts to adaptive ecosystems that balance productivity, collaboration and employee wellbeing to remain relevant in the modern workplace.