Seven benefits of working in the office

Why office time still matters in a hybrid world

Hybrid is now the UK norm (about 1 in 4 working-age adults worked hybrid in early 2025), but being in the office some of the week still delivers unique value. Use these seven benefits to plan purposeful office days and get more from your career. 

1) Faster collaboration & better ideas

Video calls are great for coordination—but when you need creative idea generation, in-person wins. A peer-reviewed study in Nature found that virtual communication curbs creativity during ideation compared with face-to-face sessions. The authors attribute this to narrower attentional focus on screens versus shared physical space.

2) Stronger networks (and fewer silos)

Remote-heavy work patterns tend to strengthen “strong ties” (your immediate team) while weakening cross-team connections—the very relationships that spread knowledge and spark innovation. Microsoft’s large-scale analysis during the shift to remote work showed firm-wide networks became more siloed, with fewer new connections across groups. Spending time in the office helps rebuild those “weak ties.”

3) Mentoring & early-career development

The “apprenticeship” side of work—observing how seniors run meetings, negotiate, or debug a problem—is easier in person. Gallup’s recent research on hybrid work also highlights the “remote work paradox”: remote employees report high engagement on some measures but fewer days “thriving.” Regular, intentional office time gives early-career talent more chances for informal coaching and visibility.

4) Wellbeing & belonging

Work friendships are a powerful buffer against stress and burnout. Hybrid office days make it easier to build real relationships through unplanned chats, coffee breaks and team rituals—touchpoints that can be harder to replicate online. Buffer’s 2023 State of Remote Work lists loneliness as a top challenge for remote workers; in-person time helps counter it.

5) Productivity for ambiguous, fast-moving work

When priorities are shifting or a problem is ambiguous, co-location shortens feedback loops. Quick whiteboard sessions and “tap-on-the-shoulder” decisions can unblock work in minutes rather than days of back-and-forth messages. Pair this with remote deep-work time for the best of both.

6) Better ergonomics & safe workstations

Employers must meet health & safety standards for office setups (e.g., Display Screen Equipment regulations), ensuring suitable chairs, screens and lighting—not always guaranteed at home. If you struggle with aches or eye strain at home, use office days for a compliant setup and request workstation adjustments.

7) Culture you can feel

Values, rituals and “how we do things” are easier to see and learn in person—especially for new joiners. Office days help teams celebrate wins, welcome newcomers and reinforce behaviours that tools and policies alone can’t carry.

Make every office day count (quick tips)

• Plan “collab-heavy” work (brainstorms, complex decisions, kick-offs) for office days; save deep work for home days. (Backed by the creativity and network findings above.)

• Stack high-value interactions: 1:1s, mentoring coffees, cross-team intros.

• Book a workstation review if you’ve had any discomfort—use the office set-up standards.

• Agree team norms: which days you’re in, meeting-light windows, and how to include remote colleagues.

UK hybrid snapshot (useful context)

• Hybrid working remained stable through 2024 into early 2025, with around a quarter of working-age adults hybrid and ~1/5 working from home exclusively at least once in a 7-day period. Plan your office days when the people you need are also in. 

Ready to find a role—and a work style—that fits? Explore our latest opportunities or speak to Meraki Talent’s consultants about hybrid set-ups that actually work.