Five years after COVID-19 turned workplaces upside down, business leaders are finally calling it: the “new normal” has arrived.
According to FM:Systems’ 2025 Inside the Workplace report, 81% of executives say they’ve either reached or are on the brink of a post-pandemic equilibrium, balancing business goals with employee needs.
But with AI-driven automation on the rise and workplace management tech adoption soaring, this so-called stability might not last long.
The workplace is evolving, and companies are throwing serious resources at technology to keep up. Seventy-six percent of businesses are gearing up to deploy generative AI (GenAI) to streamline operations in 2025, while 46% plan to roll out automation tools to take over maintenance and management tasks.
Most employees are not worried about job security
Despite widespread tech adoption, the fear of mass layoffs isn’t gripping the workforce—yet. According to the report, nearly three-quarters (74%) of employees feel secure in their jobs, signaling that, for now, automation isn’t replacing humans en masse.
Both business leaders and employees now agree on what offices are actually for: collaboration. Among surveyed executives, 67% said the primary reason to bring people into the office is for team meetings, innovation, and networking. Employees seem to agree, with nearly half (48%) of hybrid workers coming in mainly to connect with colleagues, catch up, and share updates.
Brian Haines, chief strategy officer, FM:Systems, said: “There was a long period of time when organisations were forced to play whack-a-mole with issues like high employee turnover, supply chain constraints, underutilised office space, and soaring inflation. To navigate these disruptions, many turned to workplace management solutions to get the reliable data and insights needed to make smarter real estate decisions. And the data shows organisations are increasingly prioritising workplace management technology, recognising its essential role in optimising space in a way that strengthens their bottom line, enhances the employee experience and delivers on sustainability goals.”
Sustainability: A PR move or a real priority?
With stricter environmental regulations looming, businesses are scrambling to prove they care about sustainability. Two-thirds of executives say sustainability is more important than it was a year ago, and 75% of employees want their companies to take it seriously. But while 63% of workers think their employers are doing a good job, the rest might need more convincing.
As AI, automation, and shifting office dynamics reshape the corporate world, today’s “new normal” might just be another transition phase. The question is: how long before the next shake-up?