How do I get employees back to the office?

Many companies are currently facing the same challenge: The office exists, but is used much less frequently than before. At the same time, many managers want more personal collaboration, stronger team cohesion and better use of existing office space. However, traditional attendance requirements are often met with resistance and have a negative effect on motivation and employer attractiveness.

The better solution: offer employees real added value for office visits.

Current studies clearly show that employees are generally prepared to come to the office — but only if the journey to work is worthwhile.

Studies show: Employees need a reason to work

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

1st Leesman Hybrid Experience Study

Leesman, 2024

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

Core summary:
The study shows that employees are now more aware of 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 particularly relevant for personal 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 concentrated work to meetings, workshops and informal discussions.

For companies, this means that office spaces must be specifically geared towards hybrid work. The focus is not on mere attendance, but on the quality of the office experience.

Link to the study:
Leesman: The Hybrid Experience

2nd Hybrid Work Study

Stanford/Nicholas Bloom, 2024

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

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

The finding that rigid attendance requirements are less effective than clearly structured hybrid models is particularly relevant. Employees benefit from flexibility and autonomy, while companies can continue to enable personal collaboration.

For returning to the office, this means that companies should not rely on coercion, but should specifically define when office work makes sense — for example for team days, workshops, project work or personal coordination.

Link to the study:
Stanford — Hybrid Work Is a Win-Win-Win

3rd Future of Work Survey

JLL, 2024

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

Core summary:
The JLL Future of Work Survey 2024 shows that companies must adapt their office space and workplace strategies more closely to the requirements of hybrid work. The office is increasingly seen as a strategic location — not just as an area with desks, but as a space for collaboration, culture, innovation and employee experience.

Good planning and coordinated attendance play a central role in this. When employees come to the office, they expect suitable workplaces, good technical equipment, suitable meeting rooms and the opportunity to meet colleagues on site.

For companies, this means that office visits must be predictable, meaningful and attractive. Modern workplace management solutions can help to efficiently organize workplaces, rooms and resources.

Link to the study:
JLL — Future of Work Survey

Why do employees like to come to the office?

We asked colleagues internally why they like coming to the office in person.

Interview question 1

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

Elias: “The great local team and the interpersonal relationship, which is difficult to establish from home. In addition, I can often work more concentrated and efficiently in the office, as an appropriate environment is created and distractions when it is work-related.”

Maxi: “It motivates me to come to the office to personally exchange ideas with my colleagues and to strengthen team cohesion together.”

Interview question 2

What are the benefits of working with colleagues on site?

Elias: In my specialist area of content creation in particular, the creative exchange and involvement of others is an advantage. Video recordings in particular cannot be made from home. Ideas can be quickly checked and scrutinized without having to set up an extra meeting for them.

Maxi: If there are challenges or open questions, you can quickly exchange ideas in the office and look for a solution together. When working from home, on the other hand, you often wait for the other person to answer.

Interview question 3

What does a modern office have to offer so that employees enjoy coming to the office regularly?

Elias: Above all, a pleasant working environment. If the team and cohesion among themselves crumble, the entire system only runs to a limited extent. There should also be clean, well-arranged workplaces, suitable equipment (furniture, technology, relaxation areas) and pleasant air and enough sunlight, provided that the type of work allows this. The workplace should be a place where you can work in peace and with as little stress as possible.

Maxi: The right equipment to do my job well is important to me. And in my opinion, a good coffee machine should not be missing.

The answers often show similar patterns: People come to the office primarily because of social exchange, spontaneous cooperation, better communication and a clear separation between work and private life — not because of a duty.

3 strategies that really bring employees back to the office

1. Make the office a social space

Employees much prefer to come to the office when there is collaboration and personal exchange. Companies should therefore consciously create occasions:

• Team days
• shared lunches
• Workshops
• Project work on site
• networking spaces
• modern meeting areas

2. Coordinate office attendance better

One of the most common frustration points: Employees come to the office and barely meet any colleagues there. For this reason, planning attendance is becoming increasingly important, also to avoid empty spaces.

With workplace management solutions like Flexopus, teams can:

• Plan joint office days
• Book workplaces in advance
• Find colleagues in the office
• Reserve meeting rooms
• Organize parking spaces

3. Improve the office experience

Employees today compare the office directly with the convenience of working from home. Companies must therefore pay more attention to user experience and flexibility.

Important factors include:

• modern workplaces
• Relaxation areas and focus areas
• good technical equipment
• ergonomic workplaces
• simple booking processes
• flexible Desk sharing concepts

Desk sharing: less vacancy, better office experience

As a result of hybrid work, many fixed jobs remain unused — but continue to incur costs for rent, energy, cleaning and equipment.

With Desk sharing Employees can book a job flexibly as required. As a result, companies can use their office space more strategically and reduce the number of unused desks.

With software such as Flexopus, you can:

• workplaces
• meeting rooms
• parking spaces

simply book in advance. Employees can see directly which colleagues are on site and which workplaces are available. With Flexopus, you can also Register guests And any Office assets such as booking pool vehicles or IT equipment.

conclusion

Employees don't come back to the office because of compulsory attendance, but when the office offers real added value.

Studies clearly show that successful companies rely on flexibility, collaboration and modern workplace concepts instead of coercion. Anyone who organizes office attendance sensibly, promotes social interaction and actively supports hybrid work creates more attractive working conditions in the long term.

Technologies such as Flexopus help to efficiently implement hybrid work models and make the office a place where employees are happy to return.