New Colliers’ report highlights key factors that could significantly boost in-office presence

With average peak occupancy remaining below 40 per cent across EMEA and North America, and workplaces lacking vibrancy 83 per cent of the time, the latest research from Colliers Workplace Advisory provides data on what truly influences office attendance – and what does not.

Colliers’ findings identify five key factors that significantly boost in-office presence:

1. Assigned desks ‘for a day’ – Employees with a guaranteed workspace when present in the office, attend up to 1.3 days more per week. Knowing they will have a designated space when present in the office makes returning to the office more appealing.
2. The right workspace for the right task – Employees want purpose-designed environments that support both collaboration, but also deep focus. Offices that provide these task-focused workspaces increase attendance by up to 0.6 days per week.
3. Colleagues being present – Social connection is a major driver of attendance. Employees are significantly more likely to come in when they know their collaborators will be on-site, leading to an increase of up to 0.6 days per week. Team-based office days maximise this effect.
4. A structured office routine – Employees who follow set in-office schedules attend 0.7–1.1 days more per week than those with complete flexibility. Predictability helps embed attendance into their routines.
5. Manager expectations – When managers clearly signal that office attendance is expected, employees attend up to 0.9 days per week more. Leadership plays a critical role in shaping workplace behaviours.

JanJaap Boogaard, Director and Head of Workplace Advisory (EMEA) at Colliers, explained:

“Organisations need rethink how to create dynamic, purpose-driven office environments that encourage in-office presence. Many have attempted to entice employees back with free meals, attendance-based incentives, and social events, yet research shows these strategies have little to no impact on attendance in the long term. Nor are employees drawn in by acoustic comfort or open-plan layouts, and leadership presence alone is insufficient unless accompanied by clear expectations.”

“To truly re-engage staff, businesses must adopt data-driven approaches that address real attendance drivers and significantly boost in-office presence,” added Sven Moller, Director and Head of Nordics Workplace Advisory at Colliers. “Without these factors, offices risk becoming underutilised spaces that fail to deliver the collaborative and dynamic environments employees need to thrive and maintain productivity.”

To download the full report click here: