Experts: bonuses and better conditions can draw employees back to the office

An increasing number of companies are moving back toward in-person work, or at least introducing a set number of days per week when employees accustomed to remote work must report to the office. This shift reflects a broader trend in the labor market as employers seek to restore physical presence in workplaces.

However, industry experts caution that this approach needs to be handled thoughtfully. They point out that some employees are able to work just as well, or even better, from home — and such people, in the experts' view, should not be unnecessarily pressured to come in.

Improving conditions instead of forcing compliance

Rather than imposing strict mandates, experts recommend that employers focus on improving the office environment so that staff themselves become motivated to return in person. This includes offering additional perks and better working conditions that make the office a more appealing place than working from home.

Experts stress that this approach would allow companies to achieve their goal of greater in-office presence — not through mandatory requirements, but by creating conditions under which employees choose on their own to work from the office.