The Secret to Drawing People Back to the Office

1 Jul 2026 · 3 min · 3 chapters

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In short

How to make office days feel valuable versus remote work by intentionally building social ties and structured in-person interactions.

Guests

No guest names or backgrounds are provided in the transcript.

Key claims

“Hybrid” efforts often framed the office as a clubhouse or hackathon space—places for collaboration that can’t be done remotely. To increase voluntary return, companies should “jazz up” office days and, more importantly, create social connections deliberately: pair new hires with mentors, assign a list of key people to meet and follow up, and organize cross-team working lunches to break silos.

Notable examples

cohorting new hires with mentors; working lunches across teams; volunteering opportunities.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

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Creating Value in Hybrid Workspaces

0:30 to 0:51

Explore strategies to enhance collaboration and connection in hybrid work environments.

“Now in new fun summer colors, Flow Y brings a racerback shape to streamline styles you can wear anywhere.”

Creating Value in Hybrid Workspaces

0:55 to 2:07

Explore strategies to enhance collaboration and connection in hybrid work environments.

“The office should be like a clubhouse or, you know, we should organize hackathons.”

Creating Value in Hybrid Workspaces

2:10 to 2:33

Explore strategies to enhance collaboration and connection in hybrid work environments.

“Over 4 million businesses have skipped the line with Stamps.com.”
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Transcript

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0:28This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. tank top styles and even a dress. Now in new fun summer colors, Flow Y brings a racerback shape to streamline styles you can wear anywhere. Our buttery soft Nulu fabric feels nearly weightless with sweat wicking four-way stretch for comfort you'll want to keep on after practice. Flow freely on and off the mat with light support and refined design. Shop Flow Y now at lululemon.com. When people were trying to get hybrid right, I remember they used terms like The office should be like a clubhouse or, you know, we should organize hackathons. You know, let's get people here and do something that you cannot do remotely.

1:07And what are your thoughts on that? Do you need to sort of jazz things up on office days to make it really distinct from remote work days in order to create this perceived sense of value and collaboration and healthy culture? One of the things that we also suggest is, you know, the importance of building these social ties intentionally, the ones that we don't have so much of when it's remote settings, right? You know, cohort new hires, pair them with mentors, create a list of important people that they need to meet and make sure that you follow up on that, that they do meet those people. Organize working lunches across teams.

1:48So to get people out of their silos as well. So any program that really brings employees together, even volunteering opportunities or so, are ones that really it's an added benefit of building personal relationships and getting people to come back maybe more voluntarily into the office as well. Still waiting in line? Again? That's time you will never get back. Save time and money with Stamps.com. Over 4 million businesses have skipped the line with Stamps.com. Join them to save up to 90 % off carrier rates from your computer or phone right now. Print postage for certified mail, registered mail, and packages in seconds.

2:31Then schedule a pickup right from your home or office. For a limited time, go to Stamps.com and use code PODCAST for a free welcome gift. Taxes and fees apply.

From the publisher

The Secret to Getting People Back in the Office

24 Jun 2025

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In a hybrid world, social connection takes extra effort.

🎧 Listen to the full IdeaCast episode here: https://s.hbr.org/4nd5mHa

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