Published by Jessica Weisman-Pitts
Posted on November 13, 2024
4 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
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Rob Frank, CEO EMEA of Unispace
By Rob Frank, CEO EMEA of Unispace
In this new reality, mandates alone will not solve the problem of getting employees to return. Employees have become accustomed to the benefits of flexible working and financial services firms must now reimagine their workplaces as magnets: spaces that draw people in by offering something unique and valuable beyond what they can achieve at home.
The pitfalls of mandates
Considering the employee’s point of view allows us to understand the challenges of mandating. For example, employees believe that mandates are ‘imposed’ on them with a broad-brush approach, across a range of roles, without businesses truly understanding the core functions and requirements of employees in their day-to-day tasks. Also, they do not take into consideration why employees need to physically be in a workplace. Is the technology and infrastructure better within the office environment, enabling people to perform their roles with greater ease and efficiency? Simple logistical considerations also come into focus, such as teams not having enough desks together or the ability to prebook them before travelling into the office. This often leads to teams being separated while in one place, which is counterproductive and results in employees feeling frustrated. A simple solution could be seat booking systems, where team leaders can book out sections of a workplace so that collaboration can be coordinated and supported.
These frustrations and approaches to returning to the office can make employees dissatisfied with businesses and leave them disconnected from the company, the opposite effect the employer is hoping for. After all, the aim was to reconnect employees by bringing them back into an office in the first instance.
The evolving role of workplaces
People choose to come into workplaces when they are positively motivated to do so. Face-to-face collaboration with colleagues is a primary driver for encouraging people back into the office. Additional drivers include building social and professional connections, learning and mentorship, and making it easier for people to bounce ideas off each other.
Driven by the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, people now view the office as the ultimate hub for connection and alignment, enabling them to feel more productive. It is no longer a purely functional space with a desk, computer and access to technology or resources. This means the footprint of the office itself needs to be reviewed, as we’ve witnessed this year from City AM’s news(4) on HSBC’s headquarters in Canary Wharf. From 2027, the skyscraper will be transformed into a multi-use location with workspaces, leisure, entertainment, education, and cultural attractions. It will almost certainly consist of a variety of spaces to complete different types of work, whether private, focused or collaborative.
Modern financial services workplaces also need to ensure employee wellbeing is front of mind when considering any office design. Though there are a number of considerations, flexible spaces incorporating natural light and access to outdoor spaces with fresh air are principal among them. Acoustic design is also crucial to ensure noise-related distractions do not impact on an employee’s ability to complete day-to-day activities. By understanding ways of working, companies can better support their workforce while also attracting people back into buildings, safe in the knowledge that the physical building itself is fulfilling everyone’s needs.
The UK financial services sector is a vital part of the economy, which means competition to attract, engage and retain talent is imperative to sustaining it. We are at a crossroads with returning to the office. Businesses know that employees are not solely motivated by salary, flexibility and the overall physical working environment play a huge part in employees’ motivation to return to the office.
If workplaces do not adapt to understand and offer better equipped surroundings, flexibility, and competitive working policies then there is a risk of losing talent to other sectors or up and coming competitors that do.
Though mandating may feel like the first step in encouraging colleagues to return to the office, it shouldn’t be. Focusing on the policies and physical spaces at your disposal will be far more meaningful and impactful in the long-term, whilst also maintaining positive engagement and productivity.
Mandating will not solve the challenge of getting people back into the workplace, it’s the workplaces themselves that need to be ready to welcome employees back.
Sources
Employee engagement is the emotional commitment an employee has to their organization, which influences their performance and productivity.
Workplace design involves creating a physical environment that enhances employee productivity, collaboration, and wellbeing through thoughtful layout and amenities.
Mandates in the workplace are policies or rules set by employers requiring employees to adhere to specific working conditions, such as returning to the office.
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