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As workers slowly come back, big city office occupancy hits a new pandemic milestone

Feb 2, 2023
For the rest of the country, remote work numbers are stable.
Though more workers have begun returning to offices in larger cities, that's less true for workers elsewhere in the country. Above, a view of office buildings in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Retail is recovering — and flowering — in smaller cities and the suburbs

Feb 1, 2023
A new report from the JPMorgan Chase Institute finds retail has followed consumers to where many more now work and live.
Consumers are continuing to spend — just closer to home. Above, people walk at an outdoor shopping area in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

Disney will soon require workers to be in-office four days a week

Jan 10, 2023
In a note to employees, CEO Bob Iger said, "in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the the ability to connect, observe and create with peers."
Disney competitors may follow the company's decision to require workers be in-office four days a week, or use their remote work flexibility as a recruitment tool.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Extending your holiday trip to work remotely has its joys ... and its interrupted Zoom calls

Dec 14, 2022
When visiting family over the holidays, the mix of business, leisure and family time can be tricky.
With family or little ones around, concentrating on work while at your parents' house can be ... easier said than done.
Jaime Reina/AFP via Getty Images

Raising the curtain on "productivity theater"

Oct 4, 2022
Employees don't want be labeled "quiet quitters," so they're working to appear busy. Rani Molla of Vox explains the practice.
Nearly 90% of managers don't trust that their hybrid employees are productive, according to a Microsoft survey.
Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images

Federal Reserve finds working from home has been a big driver of inflation

Sep 27, 2022
San Francisco Fed researchers say the work-from-home shift may account for more than half of overall home price and rent increases in the U.S.
Demand for newer, bigger housing options that provide space for working from home has grown during the pandemic.
Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images

Proposed Manhattan congestion fee could make return to office even harder

Aug 29, 2022
Manhattan could soon charge drivers a toll to enter midtown, the financial district and other active areas.
Dense traffic in midtown Manhattan. New York City’s proposed congestion plan could include tolls as high as $23 during peak hours.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Is everyone back at the office? It depends on where you live.

Aug 18, 2022
Office occupancy remains low in cities like New York and San Francisco, while places like Columbus, Ohio, are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.
Office occupancy rates remain low in major urban areas like New York City. Above, a person eats lunch on the terrace of a Manhattan office building.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Companies have another reason to let go of office space: a potential recession

Jul 5, 2022
If the pandemic didn't convince CEOs to get rid of costly in-person work environments, an economic downturn might do the trick.
Occupancy periods in leasing agreements shortened during the pandemic, which could expand the amount of unused office space in a few years' time.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Work at the office, work from home or both? Companies are still deciding what's best.

Jun 24, 2022
The purpose of the workplace is changing for businesses that let employees work both remotely and in the office.
Businesses are still trying to find a balance between employees working both remotely and in the office.
Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images