Getting back to early mornings, reclaiming schedules, reorganizing tasks and reconnecting with a full inbox. September condenses in a few days one of the year’s biggest routine changes and, for millions of workers, also means spending more time in the office again.
The way companies manage that return can make the transition after vacation smoother. Flexibility, the comfort of the workstation, tools that streamline daily tasks, or spaces to focus and reconnect with colleagues are already part of workers’ expectations.
That’s reflected in “Worker Survey 2026-27,” Lyreco Iberia’s study, which analyzes how professionals’ priorities are evolving around wellbeing, flexibility, technology, and workspaces.
“September is a particularly interesting moment to observe how teams actually work. After several weeks outside the routine, day-to-day issues become more visible that perhaps during a normal year we normalize: from the comfort of the workstation to the organization of work or the tools we use. For companies, listening to these needs can help ease the return,” says Claudia Caballero de la Serna, Director of Communications at Lyreco Iberia.
The September Return Is Not the Same in a Large Company as in a Small Business
The return to routine arrives at organizations that have advanced at different paces in transforming their work models. While 67% of workers at large companies are already operating in flexible models, the proportion falls to 46% in microbusinesses and among freelancers. A 21-point gap that also shapes how professionals approach returning after the summer.
The flexible workday can help gradually recover the usual hours and rhythms, especially in the first weeks marked by task and team reorganizations. For companies, September provides a particularly useful snapshot of how their work models fit the current needs of their professionals.
“Each organization has its own reality and needs to find its own balance. The September return can serve to review what’s working, listen to the teams, and detect small changes in how work is organized that help recover the routine more naturally,” explains Caballero de la Serna.
Back Pain Doesn’t Care About Company Size
The return to the office also shifts the focus back to the physical conditions under which the workday unfolds. And here the differences between large and small companies essentially disappear.
Musculoskeletal discomfort related to the workspace affects 63% of professionals at large corporations, 64% of those in SMEs, and 59% among microbusinesses and freelancers. Postural problems and visual fatigue are among the main discomforts detected by the study.
The return after several weeks off can make evident some discomforts that are part of the standard workday: an improper posture, an inadequately equipped desk, or spending too many hours in front of a screen.
The study also shows that companies that promote active breaks and visual breaks reduce the incidence of physical pain among their workers by 21%.
“Physical discomfort affects professionals at companies of all sizes. Sometimes small habits or elements of the job end up having an impact on day-to-day life. September is a good time to once again focus on these issues and avoid normalizing discomfort as part of the workday,” notes Caballero de la Serna.
A Good Chair Beats Foosball in the Ideal Office
Workers’ priorities have also shifted when imagining the space they’d like to return to. 67% rate ergonomic, comfortable furniture as the main requirement for their ideal office.
Ergonomics thus outranks other elements long associated with the most attractive offices. Professionals especially value aspects that directly affect how they work and how they feel during the day.
Alongside desk comfort, having spaces suited to different moments of the day becomes important in a day that can blend focus time, meetings, calls, and teamwork. The office also becomes a meeting point with colleagues and a space to recover shared dynamics after the summer.
“For a long time, people have talked about making offices more attractive by adding leisure zones or experiential elements. Yet workers are focusing on issues closely tied to their day-to-day: working comfortably, having the right tools, and spaces that respond to the different needs of the day,” explains Caballero de la Serna.
September, an Opportunity to Review How We Work
The return from vacation offers companies a chance to identify the small frictions that shape their teams’ daily experience. The organization of work, workstation comfort, available tools, or how spaces are used gain special visibility after the summer pause.
For large companies, SMEs, and small businesses, reviewing these issues can help ease adaptation to the routine and move toward work environments more aligned with current workers’ expectations.
“Each company and each team has different needs. Listening to how people work, reviewing the spaces, and providing them with the right tools is a good starting point so that September also becomes an opportunity to improve the daily experience of the teams,” concludes Claudia Caballero de la Serna.
