Post-pandemic, getting employees back to the office isn’t about mandates—it’s about creating spaces people actually want to use. CEOs may push for presence, but as Patrícia Agostinho (EY) and Rui Malcata (Steelcase) point out, the real question is: what makes an office meaningful?
At EY’s Alcântara hub, there are no private offices—not even for the CEO. Employees choose from 39 workstation options, innovation rooms, social areas, and quiet zones depending on their tasks and mood. Daily breakfasts, sports sessions, on-site massages, and voluntary social events turn the office into a place to learn, grow, and connect.
Steelcase emphasizes flexibility: the office must serve real needs, not schedules. Traffic, wasted time, and disconnection are the real barriers. Hybrid workplaces should foster well-being and belonging, making presence a choice rather than an obligation.
The takeaway: the future office isn’t about desks or hours—it’s about purpose, engagement, and inspiration. Companies that invest in humanized, flexible environments will attract talent, strengthen culture, and make the office a destination people genuinely want to return to.
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