When I started as an intern in 1993, there was no question about where or how you worked—you showed up in person, dressed in a suit and pantyhose. People talked about where they worked, but never whether or not they went in.

Just like school for students and hospitals for patients, offices were simply where professionals went. Like clockwork, at 8 a.m. across every time zone, buildings filled with employees. Some companies dabbled in hoteling or flexible seating, but by and large, presence was expected and rarely questioned.

Fast forward to today, and everything has changed.

Why Are People Resisting the Office Now?

Before 2020, workplace design followed formulas—by industry, job title, and square footage. It was predictable. You could plug in a job function and determine the number of workstations needed. But COVID disrupted the rhythm we all lived by, forcing a massive reevaluation of not just how we work, but where we work.

For decades, the workplace has been a cornerstone of culture, collaboration and innovation. So what’s driving today’s aversion to the office? Two core tensions: comfort vs. culture and policy vs. purpose.

Policy vs. Purpose: The Real Return-to-Office Challenge

Before the pandemic, going to the office was the norm. Then it became optional. Now, for many, it’s a mandate—and that shift creates resistance.

Here’s the truth: Americans don’t like being told what to do. And after experiencing a new level of autonomy, many employees are reluctant to give that up, especially without a clear reason why.

At SKG, we returned to in-person work in the summer of 2020. Why? Because creating spaces that unlock the full potential of an organization is our purpose. We had to walk the walk and be our own case study. We also looked at the data: when we went remote, our error rate spiked and key KPIs suffered. Productivity and performance dipped. We knew we were better together—and it wasn’t just a belief. It became our operating principle.

Return-to-office policies only work when they’re grounded in purpose. Mandates alone don’t motivate people. Leaders must clearly articulate the why—and ensure that the physical workspace supports it.

Comfort vs. Culture: What the Workplace Needs to Compete With

The second challenge? Comfort.

Remote work gave people more control over their day and their environment. To counter that, we doubled down on making our workplace a place people want to be—investing in our location, look, feel, technology, and culture.

This is a topic I’ll explore more deeply in future posts: how to create Space—not just physically, but emotionally. Because to be effective, a space has to support its people holistically. It needs to be a place of energy, well-being, connection, and creativity.

The Opportunity for Leaders

This is an exciting time for companies to rethink the workspace. The office is no longer just real estate or a place to sit at a desk, it’s a strategic business tool. Your two biggest expenses—people and place—must be in alignment. If your physical space doesn’t support your purpose, your people won’t support your policy. But if you get it right? The workplace becomes a catalyst. For connection. For collaboration. For growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Policy must be rooted in purpose. Without a clear why, return-to-office efforts will fall flat.
• Comfort is the new competition. Your space must offer more than just desks and equipment. It must deliver on well-being, flexibility, and inspiration.
• Space is strategy. When leveraged correctly, it fuels performance, culture, and business outcomes.

In the next blog, I’ll unpack how to define your workplace “why” and use it as a lens to evaluate your environment. This is just the beginning of a new conversation about what work—and space—can be.

Let’s Rethink the Role of the Workspace, Together

If your workplace strategy is being met with resistance, it may be time to reexamine the why behind your space. At SKG, we help organizations turn the office into a strategic advantage—one that supports culture, drives performance, and draws people in.

Book a complimentary consultation to explore how your environment can better support your people and your purpose. Or visit our SoLa Showroom to see what’s possible when space is designed to work harder for your business.

Let’s create a workplace people want to come back to.

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