We’ve seen organisations worldwide issuing mandates to bring employees back to the office – along with headlines sparking debates about the workplace, its purpose, flexibility, benefits and more.
Current employee sentiment regarding Return to Office (RTO) is mixed. Many workers, having experienced the flexibility and perceived work-life balance of remote work, view mandated returns as regressive. Concerns range from loss of autonomy and increased commute times to disruptions in their established personal and professional routines.
This friction has sparked a broader conversation about the nature of work environments. It also highlights the role that autonomy and flexibility play in modern employment dynamics. Consequently, organisations focused on operational needs when calling staff back to the office should also be considering how such moves resonate. They need to take into account employee expectations, community and modern work culture.
This perspective allows us to move beyond solely enforcing mandates to consider how enhancing the workplace’s appeal can complement these requirements. By focusing on what genuinely attracts employees to a physical workspace, we can create workplace environments ripe with new energy, innovation and success. This article explores this approach, bringing us to the integrated concept of ‘Magnet Meets Mandate.’
‘Magnet meets mandate’ frames enticing work environments (the ‘magnet’) and established attendance policies (the ‘mandate’) as a dual approach. This concept emphasises the effectiveness of designing environments that employees are drawn to be a part of. It moves away from solely enforcing attendance through top-down directives.
By blending enticing workplace design with elements of The Social Office that support connection and culture, organisations can create a magnetic space. Alongside strategic mandates, this approach motivates employees to return. They come back not just because they are required to, but because they are attracted to what the workplace offers in enhancing their professional and personal lives.
The Social Office Creating a magnetic workplace hinges on recognising that design is more than aesthetics. It is a crucial strategy that supports your workforce and drives business success.
A well-designed office isn’t just as a space to work, it’s a hub of engagement, social interaction and inspiration. Today, employees are not just looking for a desk. They seek environments that resonate with their values, catalyse connections and stimulate their creativity.
Key elements that turn spaces into employee magnets include:
Innovation isn’t cultivated in isolation—it thrives in collaborative settings where diverse ideas can cross-pollinate. Strategic design plays a crucial role in facilitating these interactions. By creating spaces that are conducive to open communication and spontaneous connections.
From writable walls and communal tables to AV that allows for quick sharing, the environment should be a flexible and adaptable enabler of sharing and brainstorming. It should act as a flexible, adaptable enabler of sharing and brainstorming. This approach boosts productivity by accommodating a variety of workers and work styles. At the same time, it enhances job satisfaction as employees feel more connected to their teams and the creative processes.
Healthy environments are no longer nice-to-haves; they are must-haves. Spaces that prioritise green materials, natural light and indoor air quality do more than conserve resources. They promote a healthier, more inviting atmosphere that employees are eager to enter. When a company commits to these practices, it sends a powerful message about its values. This attracts like-minded individuals who are not just looking for a job but a purpose.
A fresh approach is gaining momentum—prioritising workplaces that employees choose to return to willingly. These are environments that go beyond meeting basic needs to inspire growth, nurture connection and support wellbeing.
To succeed, organisations must move beyond enforcing attendance and focus on designing spaces that draw people in, driving both individual and collective success. Rather than relying on strict mandates to bring employees back to the office, consider a more compelling strategy: rethinking and revitalising your workplace to make it a place where people truly want to be.
Partnering with us can transform your office into a space that naturally draws people back. This is achieved not through compulsion but through a magnetic, engaging environment designed to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.
Group Director
