Let’s answer the question:
Is it still worth it for team collaboration? This is the question many workplace leaders are asking. After all, tools like video calls and chat apps connect us from anywhere. So, what unique value does in-person office time offer for collaboration? Let’s explore the latest research and data (2023–2025) to find out.
Building Connection and Culture
An area where the office shines is in human connection and company culture. Working remotely can feel isolating – video meetings can’t fully replace grabbing lunch or chatting in person.
95% of professionals say face-to-face meetings are key to successful long-term work relationships. That’s because
trust and camaraderie often grow faster when we share space. Casual conversations and non-verbal cues (a reassuring smile in a meeting, a quick high-five after a win) help build team rapport. It’s no surprise that
full-time remote workers have 33% fewer friends at work on average than office workers. Over time, that can impact engagement and loyalty.
Gallup’s 2023 data echoes this: as employees returned on-site more,
employee engagement scores improved, whereas
remote workers’ sense of connection to their organisation’s mission fell to a record low. Being physically present helps reinforce a shared purpose. There’s an energy in a buzzing office that’s hard to emulate virtually – think of the excitement after a big client win, or the collective focus right before a deadline. These in-person experiences strengthen culture and create a sense of belonging.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean everyone wants a full return to the old 9-to-5. Most people now desire a mix: flexibility to work from home and time together in the office. Multiple surveys (Gallup,
Cisco, etc.) find that about
75% of employees want a hybrid arrangement – the freedom to focus at home sometimes,
plus opportunities to gather in person.
This implies that while employees value the office for collaboration and community, they also expect it to
serve a clear purpose. People are increasingly asking,
“Why am I commuting in today?” If the answer is
“to sit alone on video calls”, then the office trip feels pointless.
On the other hand, if the day promises meaningful face-to-face work – a planning workshop, team brainstorming, client visit, or simply bonding with coworkers – then coming in is worth it.
Evolving Employee Expectations
If the office is to remain a vibrant hub of collaboration, its design and management need to align with evolving employee expectations. It starts with the
physical layout.
Studies show that proximity and sightlines dramatically influence how people share knowledge. For example, research published by the National Library of Medicine found that layout characteristics like the percentage of floor space dedicated to shared services and the visibility across different areas are closely linked to effective knowledge sharing. Likewise, a
Harvard Business Review analysis revealed that nearly two-thirds of all in-person interactions happen at employees’ desks, while just
9% occur in communal zones such as corridors or cafés, highlighting how desk clusters serve as unrecognised collaboration hubs.
These insights argue against rigid rows of cubicles or isolated private offices. Instead, many organisations are moving toward
flexible, open layouts: intermingled workstations, project rooms, huddle nooks, and casual lounges, all interspersed with quiet zones for focused tasks.
The aim is to make chance encounters and the spontaneous idea‐sharing that they spark as effortless as possible, signalling that
collaboration is welcome here.
Technology in the office is another critical enabler. To compete with the seamless setup at home, workplaces must offer
frictionless tools for teamwork.
Smart room-booking systems remove the friction. Mounting
interactive displays outside conference rooms provides
real-time availability and one-tap reservations on the spot. Pair that with desks outfitted with ready-to-dock monitors, instant-on collaborative screens, and digital whiteboards, and the office transforms from a mere workspace into a
destination for productive, inspired collaboration—one that employees actively choose over staying at home.
So, Is the Office Still Worth It?
Considering the evidence, the physical office still holds a
unique value for team collaboration, but only if we use it purposefully. In-person workplaces
excel at sparking creativity, trust, and camaraderie in ways that virtual setups struggle to match. They offer fertile ground for mentorship and “aha moments” born from casual interactions. That said, simply dragging everyone back under a single roof won’t automatically revive these benefits. The post-2020 workforce expects more.
Workplace leaders need to ensure the office is
worth the commute by aligning it with what people now want: meaningful face-to-face engagement, modernised spaces, and supportive tools and amenities.
Rather than thinking of the office as an obligation, think of it as a
tool – one that, when optimised, can greatly amplify collaboration and innovation.
The question for workplace leaders isn’t
“office or no office?” so much as
“what kind of office experience will best unlock my team’s potential?”. If your office becomes a place where people genuinely connect, share ideas freely, and feel part of something bigger, then yes – it’s still worth it for collaboration.
The challenge (and opportunity) lies in making your office that kind of place in this new era of work.