How Returning to the Office Can (Genuinely) Improve Mental Health and Productivity

Why the workplace still matters and what we’ve learned from public sector redesigns

Much has been said about hybrid work, to the point where it might seem the debate is settled. But it isn’t.

Flexibility is here to stay, and digital collaboration tools have never been stronger. Still, there’s something more elusive, something I’ve observed in our work with both public and private organizations that makes the physical office uniquely valuable not just in terms of output, but in its ability to support people, culture, and mental health.

Over the past two years, our team has worked closely with federal and local agencies as they’ve navigated the return to physical workplaces. In many cases, the results exceeded expectations, even among those initially resistant to change.

What We Risk When We Stay Remote for Too Long

To be clear, this is not a call for a full-time return to desks and commutes. But there are undeniable effects when colleagues rarely share space.

What often disappears is structure, spontaneity, and rhythm. We’ve seen it in increased turnover, difficulties onboarding new talent, and slower collaboration, even among seasoned professionals.

Steelcase has conducted extensive research on this topic, surveying tens of thousands of workers. Nearly 90% of them want to return to the office, just not every day. Guilherme Alvarez, a Steelcase executive, emphasizes the importance of creating environments that support, not dictate, how people work. That distinction matters. Culture doesn’t respond to mandates. It responds to design.

Design Shapes Behavior, And Behavior Drives Engagement

One of the most encouraging trends we’ve observed is how public-sector workplaces are approaching redesign. Agencies under pressure to bring employees back have, in many cases, used this moment to rethink outdated environments rather than replicate them.

At Government Office Furniture, we’ve supported agencies, from DHS to small municipalities, with modular layouts, mixed-use zones, and privacy-driven configurations. Once employees stepped into these reimagined spaces, attitudes changed. Resistance gave way to engagement.

Steelcase, to their credit, has advocated this kind of flexibility for years. As CEO, Sara Armbruster explains, “We’re always asking questions about how work is changing and what that means, and what we can bring to the physical environment to support those changes and the people who are doing that work.” That mindset is embedded in systems like Everwall™, which allow teams to shape space based on actual work styles. This isn’t cosmetic design—it’s behavioral support.

A similar approach has been echoed by designers in the private sector. As noted by Manhattan Office Design, modern office layouts are most effective when they combine ergonomics, flexibility, and purpose-built zones that support a variety of work styles—from focused solo tasks to active collaboration.

Donna Flynn, Chief People Officer at Steelcase, also emphasizes the importance of inclusive design as a driver of belonging. Neurodivergent employees, for instance, often face challenges in conventional open-plan offices. But with intentional elements like acoustic variation, visual cues, and alternative lighting, they flourish. Ten years ago, that conversation wasn’t happening. Now it’s essential.

Mental Health and Productivity Are Inseparable

Another area often underestimated is the impact of design on mental health. As Eddy F. Schmitt, SVP at Steelcase, puts it, “People need their office to support the various types of work they do throughout the day. They need places to collaborate, focus, learn, socialize…” A thoughtfully planned space can address those needs and reduce the friction that builds when basic functional needs go unmet.

In particular, Government Office Furniture highlights that ergonomics is foundational, not optional, to modern office design. Their recent article points out that investing in quality seating, sit-stand workstations, and flexible collaborative zones directly contributes to reduced strain, sharper focus, and long-term satisfaction.

We’ve all walked into offices where the lighting feels harsh, the acoustics distract, and there’s no quiet place to think. Over time, these small issues compound. Frustration builds. Burnout follows.

The opposite is also true. A space designed with intention, regardless of budget, can have a profound effect. Steelcase research shows that 68% of workplace leaders now consider well-being a priority metric. That would have seemed excessive a decade ago. Today, it’s a sign of progress.

In our post-occupancy evaluations, we’ve seen spaces designed two or three years ago still outperforming on employee satisfaction, because they’re built to function, not just impress.

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Model

That said, there’s no perfect formula. Some organizations may operate successfully in remote-first models. Others may prioritize in-office culture and still face hurdles. The right solution is rarely universal.

We’ve learned to iterate. A design that worked brilliantly for one agency didn’t resonate in the next. Adaptability is part of the process.

Steelcase’s global research, drawing from 63,000 employees across 11 countries, reinforces this. Their insights aren’t theoretical. They’re grounded in lived experience.

They’ve also taken a leadership role in sustainability. From flat-pack furniture systems like the Flex Active Frames to their operational carbon neutrality since 2020, Steelcase has embedded responsibility into the design process. These aren’t symbolic moves; they're structural.

We’ve started applying similar principles to our procurement-driven clients, focusing not just on appearance but on longevity, resource-conscious materials, and maintenance-friendly configurations. As this Manhattan Office Design explains, striking a balance between quality and affordability in office furniture is not only possible but also essential. These criteria are becoming standard across both public and private sectors.

While it may seem counterintuitive, the private sector has much to gain by observing how government agencies handled this shift. These organizations had to pivot quickly, with limited resources and high visibility. Yet many successfully transformed their environments and their culture.

Perhaps it's time to stop framing the return to the office as a step backward. It may be an evolution. Not toward rigid structures, but toward workplaces that enable connection, clarity, and yes, real productivity.

There will be challenges. Not every organization will get it right. But for those who invest in thoughtful, human-centered environments, the workplace can become more than a functional space. It can become a catalyst for growth, resilience, and long-term well-being.