Last month, we explored how mandating office returns can backfire, leading to decreased engagement and potential talent loss. This month, we're taking a more positive approach: How can organisations create an environment that naturally draws people back to the office?

The key lies in creating a workplace that employees actively want to be part of—one that offers clear benefits over remote work while respecting the flexibility people have come to value. So how can organisations get more people back to the office voluntarily?

Start with Understanding

Before making any changes, successful organisations are taking time to assess their current state. This means evaluating not just the physical space, but understanding what employees truly value and what would make the office more attractive to them. The most effective approach comes through actively engaging with employees through surveys and workshops, rather than assuming what they want. Senior management have to be honest about genuine reasons why they want to increase office attendance. Successful changes in workplace attendance have to come from the bottom up – not be imposed from above.

Create Purpose-Driven Spaces

The office needs to offer something that working from home cannot. This means designing spaces that facilitate collaboration and spontaneous interaction, while still providing areas for focused work when needed. Organisations finding success in this area ensure their office technology surpasses what's available at home, and they focus on quick wins through targeted space reconfigurations rather than wholesale redesigns.

Make It Worth the Commute

Smart organisations acknowledge that coming to the office requires extra effort. They're making that effort worthwhile through flexible start and finish times to avoid peak commuting hours, enhanced in-office perks that go beyond just free food, and face-to-face learning opportunities and skills training. Many are finding success with health and wellbeing initiatives like yoga or meditation sessions, alongside professional development programs that leverage in-person interactions.

Lead by Example

Leadership plays a crucial role in the return-to-office strategy. Successful approaches include maintaining regular leadership presence in the office and fostering open dialogue through town halls and feedback sessions. Leaders are actively celebrating and sharing success stories that highlight the benefits of in-person collaboration, while participating in office activities and events themselves.

Monitor and Adapt

Space Utilisation and Experience

Successful organisations closely monitor daily occupancy rates, typically aiming for 50-70% of available workspace. They track peak usage times, meeting room utilisation, and collaboration space effectiveness. Beyond just counting heads, they measure employee satisfaction through regular surveys covering workplace environment, technology effectiveness, and collaboration satisfaction.

Productivity and Cultural Impact

Organisations are finding value in measuring project completion rates and the effectiveness of cross-team interactions. They track the frequency and quality of informal collaboration, mentorship program participation, and overall cultural alignment. These metrics help paint a picture of how the office environment contributes to both productivity and company culture.

Business Impact and Measurement

The most comprehensive approaches include tracking client satisfaction scores for in-person versus remote meetings, time to market for new initiatives, and training effectiveness.

Measurement frequency varies by metric type, with space utilisation data collected daily, specific aspect surveys conducted weekly, and comprehensive employee experience surveys performed quarterly. Annual reviews of the overall workplace strategy ensure continued alignment with both business needs and employee preferences.

The key to success lies not in forcing people back but in creating an environment they genuinely want to be part of. By taking a thoughtful, employee-centric approach and carefully tracking these metrics, organisations can build a workplace that naturally draws people in, fostering collaboration, innovation, and a stronger company culture—all without the need for mandates.

Remember: The goal isn't just to get people back to the office; it's to create a workplace that adds real value to both employees' work and the organisation's success. Regular measurement and adjustment based on these metrics ensures your strategy stays aligned with both business needs and employee preferences.

Creating an attractive office environment isn't a one-time effort. The most successful organisations are taking a data-driven approach to measuring and improving their workplace.

There is no magic bullet in getting people back to the office. The location of the office can have a huge impact on how happy people are to come back to the office. We are seeing big impacts on people’s willingness to come back to offices in the Sydney CBD with the new Sydney Metro and the overall level of activity in the city further makes the city more desirable. Having great shopping, coffee, bars and restaurants makes the city a more attractive place to be – while office parks with little amenity just cant compete in providing a holistic and compelling workplace experience.

The alternative to the mandate – creating an office where people want to be