Making the office worth the commute: Research-driven strategies for places people actually want to be

In a world where employees can decide whether to come to the office, what drives people to choose in-person collaboration over staying home? Drawing on extensive real-world experiments, Brett Hautop shares breakthrough research challenging popular wisdom about design, utilization, engagement, and space allocation — showing why the most “efficient” designs often underperform, and small design interventions that dramatically shift behavior patterns. He equips leaders with evidence-based frameworks for navigating RTO challenges, rethinking utilization, justifying investments, and designing environments employees actually want to use. He delivers practical, measurable strategies to transform workplaces into magnetic, high-performing spaces that attract, inspire, and retain top talent.