Returning to the office isn't going to fix your employee engagement problem

You won’t believe this, but returning to the office isn’t going to magically fix your employee engagement problem.

Here's the cold, hard truth: Forcing people back into the office won’t reignite their passion or loyalty. It might make them more resentful. Engagement isn’t about location; it’s about connection.

What many leaders fail to realize is that engagement doesn’t come from where someone works—it comes from HOW they work and feel valued. If your culture is broken, the four walls of your office won’t save it. If employees are feeling disconnected, micromanaged, or underappreciated, making them sit in the office won't suddenly transform them into motivated, enthusiastic workers.

Instead of focusing on WHERE your people work, start focusing on WHY they’re disengaged in the first place. Are you creating meaningful opportunities for them? Do they feel heard? Are you fostering a culture that they actually want to be part of, whether they’re remote or in the office?

Engagement is built through trust, flexibility, and purpose—not cubicles.

So, tell me, what’s your take? Is your company trying to “fix” engagement with a return to the office, or are they tackling the root cause?