Since the pandemic, the question of where knowledge workers should be has become one of the most contested issues in business. Large companies including Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan have issued return-to-office mandates, citing collaboration, culture, and mentorship as their justifications.

Opponents argue that the data does not support the claimed benefits. Several studies have found that productivity is the same or higher in hybrid or remote arrangements, and that forced returns increase attrition — particularly among women, carers, and people with disabilities.

Proponents of office work point to serendipitous encounters — the spontaneous conversations at the coffee machine that spark ideas — as something that cannot be replicated digitally. Critics respond that these benefits accrue mainly to extroverts and the already-connected.

Proximity bias — the tendency to favour employees who are physically visible — remains a serious concern. In hybrid models, remote workers risk being overlooked for promotion simply because they are not seen.