“People don’t miss the office; they miss meaningful collaboration.”
Lately, it feels like every other week there’s another announcement about companies calling employees back into the office. For some people, that news is welcome. For others, it feels like a step backward. And as I’ve been watching this trend unfold, I keep coming back to one simple question: why are organizations doing it?
The truth is, remote work itself was never the problem. Most people proved they could be productive, focused, and accountable from home. But work isn’t just about output. It’s also about connection. Over time, many teams started to feel siloed. Collaboration became harder. People lost sight of how their work connected to others. And for some, the line between work and life blurred in ways that weren’t healthy.
Bringing people back together can absolutely be a good thing—when it’s done for the right reasons. Shared space creates energy. It sparks ideas. It reminds us that we’re part of something bigger than our individual tasks. But when return-to-office decisions are driven by fear or lack of trust, the impact is very different. If leaders feel they need constant oversight, that’s not a location issue—it’s a people or leadership issue.
What often gets lost in this conversation is perspective. Before remote and hybrid became buzzwords, many workplaces already allowed flexibility. People worked from home when they needed uninterrupted focus or had personal responsibilities to manage. We didn’t label it—we just trusted professionals to get their work done.
The real opportunity now is balance. Office time for collaboration. Focus time when it’s needed. Clear expectations instead of rigid labels. When leaders get that right, location stops being the headline—and culture becomes the story.
Connect with Tim and his team:
Website: https://bestculturesolutions.ca/
LinkedIn: Best Culture Solutions, Inc
Instagram: @best.culture.solutions
Email: tim@bestculturesolutions.ca
Connect with Katie:
LinkedIn: Katie Currens
Email: katie@onesparksolutions.com
Notable Moments
[02:30] Why interaction still matters
[04:39] Mental health and blurred boundaries
[05:33] Siloed work challenges teams
[10:21] Labels vs. real flexibility
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