How do I get employees back to the office?

Many companies are currently facing the same challenge: offices exist but are used significantly less often than before. At the same time, many leaders desire more in-person collaboration, stronger team cohesion, and better utilization of existing office spaces. However, traditional attendance mandates often meet with resistance and negatively impact motivation and employer attractiveness.

The better solution: Offer employees a genuine reason to come to the office.

Recent studies clearly show that employees are generally willing to come to the office — but only if the commute is worthwhile.

Studies show: Employees need a reason to come to the office

Several recent studies confirm that hybrid work has now become the standard, and companies must find new ways to make office work attractive.

1. Leesman Hybrid Experience Study

Leesman, 2024

Focus area:
Investigation of the hybrid work experience, office quality, and reasons for using the office and home office.

Key summary:
The study shows that employees today make more conscious decisions about when to come to the office and when to work from home. The home office is often used for focused individual work, while the office is primarily relevant for in-person collaboration, team exchange, and social interaction.

It is therefore crucial that the office offers clear added value. Employees expect a work environment that supports various activities – from focused work to meetings, workshops, and informal discussions.

For companies, this means: Office spaces must be specifically designed for hybrid work. The focus is not on mere presence, but on the quality of the office experience.

Link to the study:
Leesman – The Hybrid Experience

2. Hybrid Work Study

Stanford / Nicholas Bloom, 2024

Focus area:
Effects of hybrid work models on productivity, employee satisfaction, and employee retention.

Key summary:
The Stanford study by Nicholas Bloom shows that flexible hybrid models can bring benefits to both companies and employees. Hybrid work can increase satisfaction and strengthen employee retention without sacrificing productivity.

Particularly relevant is the finding that rigid attendance requirements are less effective than clearly structured hybrid models. Employees benefit from flexibility and autonomy, while companies can still facilitate in-person collaboration.

For the return to the office, this means: companies should not rely on coercion, but rather specifically define when office work makes sense – for example, for team days, workshops, project work, or in-person meetings.

Link to the study:
Stanford – Hybrid work is a win-win-win

3. Future of Work Survey

JLL, 2024

Topic area:
Future of work, workplace strategies, office space planning, and adaptation to hybrid work models.

Key summary:
The JLL Future of Work Survey 2024 shows that companies need to adapt their office spaces and workplace strategies more closely to the demands of hybrid work. The office is increasingly understood as a strategic location – not just a space with desks, but a place for collaboration, culture, innovation, and employee experience.

Good planning and coordinated attendance play a central role here. When employees come to the office, they expect suitable workstations, good technical equipment, appropriate meeting rooms, and the opportunity to meet colleagues in person.

For companies, this means: office visits must be plannable, meaningful, and attractive. Modern workplace management solutions can help organize workstations, rooms, and resources efficiently.

Link to the study:
JLL – Future of Work Survey

Why do employees enjoy coming to the office?

We internally asked colleagues why they personally enjoy coming to the office.

Interview question 1

What personally motivates you to come to the office instead of working from home?

Elias: The great on-site team and the interpersonal connections that are hard to establish from home. Additionally, I can often work more focused and efficiently in the office because a suitable environment is created, and any distractions are work-related.

Maxi: I'm motivated to come to the office to connect with my colleagues in person and collectively strengthen team cohesion.

Interview Question 2

What benefits do you gain from collaborating with colleagues in person during your daily work?

Elias: Especially in my specialized area of content creation, creative exchange and the involvement of others are beneficial. From home, video recordings, in particular, are not feasible. Ideas can be quickly cross-checked and questioned without scheduling an extra meeting for it.

Maxi: When facing challenges or open questions, you can quickly discuss them in the office and collaboratively look for a solution. In a home office, however, you often have to wait for the other person to respond.

Interview Question 3

What should a modern office offer to make employees want to come to the office regularly?

Elias: First and foremost, a pleasant working atmosphere. If the team and internal cohesion crumble, the entire system functions only to a limited extent. Additionally, there should be clean, organized workspaces, appropriate equipment (furniture, technology, quiet areas), and pleasant air and sufficient sunlight, provided the nature of the work allows it. The workplace should be a place where one can work calmly and with as little stress as possible.

Maxi: Having the right equipment to do my job well is important to me. And, in my opinion, a good coffee machine is essential.

The answers often show similar patterns: People primarily come to the office for social interaction, spontaneous collaboration, better communication, and a clear separation between work and private life — not because of an obligation.

3 Strategies That Really Bring Employees Back to the Office

1. Make the Office a Social Experience Hub

Employees are more likely to come to the office if something happens there that isn't possible remotely with the same quality: personal interaction, spontaneous conversations, shared experiences, and team spirit. Therefore, companies should deliberately create social events that are low-barrier, regular, and voluntary.

Good examples include:

• Shared lunches, such as for birthdays, anniversaries, or team successes
• Lunch & Learn sessions during lunch breaks with internal or external speakers
• After-work events, such as drinks at the local pub, pool, or darts
• Game nights, featuring board games, quizzes, or console games like Super Mario Kart
• Wine, cheese, or coffee tastings as a relaxed way to unwind after work
• Lunch dates, where employees are randomly paired each month
• Team days, workshops, or in-person project sessions

The key is: Office visits shouldn't feel like an obligation, but rather a good opportunity to meet colleagues, strengthen relationships, and company culture to actively experience.

2. Coordinate office attendance more effectively

A common point of frustration is when employees come to the office and find few colleagues there. Therefore, attendance should be predictable. Shared office days, team days, or project meetings help make the commute worthwhile.

With workplace management solutions like Flexopus, teams can:

• plan shared office days
• book workspaces in advance
• find colleagues in the office
• reserve meeting rooms
• organize parking spaces

This provides more predictability: Anyone coming to the office knows in advance who else will be there and whether suitable workspaces are available.

3. Improve the office experience

Beyond social events, the work environment itself must also be compelling. Employees today directly compare the office with the comfort and flexibility of working from home. Therefore, the office should equally support productive work, collaboration, and relaxation.

Key factors include:

• modern, ergonomic workstations
• good technical equipment
• quiet zones and focus areas
• attractive meeting and collaboration spaces
• easy booking processes
• flexible desk-sharing concepts
• comfortable common areas for breaks and informal interaction

The goal is an office that is not only functional but also offers clear added value: better collaboration, stronger social connections, and a work environment where people enjoy spending time.

Desk Sharing: Less Vacancy, Better Office Experience

Due to hybrid work, many fixed workstations remain unused — but still incur costs for rent, energy, cleaning, and equipment.

With Desk Sharing employees can flexibly book a workstation as needed. This allows companies to utilize their office space more strategically and reduce the number of unused desks.

With software like Flexopus, you can manage:

• workstations
• meeting rooms
• Parking

simply book in advance. Employees can immediately see which colleagues are on-site and which workstations are available. Furthermore, with Flexopus, you can Register guests and any office assets such as pool vehicles or IT equipment.

Conclusion

Employees don't return to the office because of a mandatory attendance policy, but when the office offers real added value.

Studies clearly show: Successful companies prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and modern workplace concepts over coercion. Those who thoughtfully organize office presence, foster social interaction, and actively support hybrid work create more attractive long-term working conditions.

Technologies like Flexopus help to efficiently implement hybrid work models and make the office a place where employees enjoy returning.