Back to work in 2025: Good resolutions take hold in the office

That's it, it's back to work! After a few weeks off, French workers are returning to the office... but with what desires, what shortcomings, and what priorities?

To find out, Deskeo surveyed French workers to understand their state of mind, their resolutions, and their expectations regarding the office. In a tense economic and political climate, the results show a clear need: to achieve a better work-life balance without sacrificing the social and collective role of the office.

Resolutions focused on well-being

The start of a new year is always a good time to take stock and adopt new habits. In 2025, this dynamic is mainly expressed through a search for well-being:

• 49% want to allow themselves more time for themselves,
• 42% plan to take up physical activity again,
• 38% want to improve their diet,
• 31% plan to adopt more eco-friendly habits.

Professional ambitions rank lower on the list: only 26% want to learn new skills, 18% want to launch a project, and 15% are considering a career change. This proves that physical and mental health remain the top priority today.

Colleagues at the heart of motivation

The return to the office, often tinged with post-vacation nostalgia, remains marked by the human dimension. While 41% say they still miss their vacations, 36% say they feel re-energized at the thought of seeing their team again.

When asked about their primary source of motivation, respondents overwhelmingly placed their colleagues at the top of the list (28%), far ahead of routine (16%), the work environment (13%), and even coffee (9%). These results confirm that the office is not just a place of work, but an essential space for social connection.

A work environment in need of improvement

While 34% of workers feel that their workplace makes them “totally” want to come back, the majority remain more nuanced. The diagnosis is clear: to be appealing, offices need to evolve.

The main areas for improvement cited by respondents are:

• More natural light (18%)
• A quieter environment (16%)
• More pleasant break areas (14%)
• More flexibility (modular spaces, teleworking, etc.) (13%)
• Better equipment (11%)

These expectations reflect increased demands in terms of the on-site experience: the office must become a comfortable, practical space designed for everyday use.

Remote working and office working: a hybrid model confirmed

In 2025, the balance between remote working and office working remains key. While 28% find returning to the office stimulating and 18% find it useful, 29% insist on the need to continue working remotely to some extent. Conversely, 13% consider office working unnecessary and 10% find it difficult.

This finding confirms the establishment of the hybrid model: the office must now be a desirable choice rather than a constraint.

Back-to-work rituals: combining conviviality and productivity

The return to the office is also marked by small rituals that reflect the importance of human relationships. The first things people do when they return from vacation are:

• Catching up with colleagues for informal chats (30%)
• Sorting through emails (26%)
• Tidying up your workspace (13%)
• Setting your priorities (11%)
• Taking a moment for yourself (6%)

The office is therefore confirmed as a place of transition and collective restart, where conviviality has its rightful place.

Deskeo's perspective: “The office should make people want to come back.”

According to Kim Le, CMO of Deskeo:

“This study shows one thing very clearly: when the work environment is well designed, it becomes a real motivator. Nearly one in three workers returns to the office with enthusiasm, and a majority find it to be an important setting, even if not decisive. This confirms our belief at Deskeo: offices must be more than just places to pass through—they must inspire, bring people together, and offer a real quality of life.”

Back to work in 2025: rethinking the role of the office

The start of the 2025 work year highlights a reality: French people want an office that really matters in their daily lives. More than just a place to pass through, it must be a space that motivates, brings people together, and facilitates a work-life balance.

At Deskeo, it is precisely this vision that guides our approach: designing spaces that go beyond the simple function of work to become true living spaces. Offices that make you want to come back, that facilitate collaboration, and that adapt to the uses of today and tomorrow.