Longing for the good ol’ days? Tips for enticing employees back to the office

Few would argue that the way people work has changed. The COVID pandemic made clear that organizations don’t have to always gather employees together in an office to get work done. Indeed, advances in technology make communication and collaboration possible when workers are nowhere near each other. But even though employers were relieved that work-from-home arrangements kept them going during the pandemic, many now long for the days when everyone was in the office. Remote work—good as it is—isn’t good enough, many employers say, and they’re eager to bring people back. The question is: How?

Why employees are hesitant

When COVID restrictions eased, employers found they had a different problem—how to get employees, who had adjusted to working from home, back in the office. When the pandemic sent people home, many felt isolated and a bit at sea as they worked alone relying on technology to stay connected.

But after a while, many found they preferred working outside the office, not having to commute or deal with office distractions. Robin, a provider of office and desk scheduling software, has issued a “Return to Office Report 2024” that explains results of a survey of 600 full-time employees at companies that allow flexible work. Among the findings: